The under construction new bailey bridge on Irang River along HN-37 collapsed on Wednesday.
A report reaching here said that the under construction bridge which was targeted to be completed by November 13 collapsed around 11.50 am.
The old bailey bridge on Irang River collapsed on November 1 while a loaded truck was crossing. The driver lost his life as the truck fell into the river even as the handyman who was also trapped inside the vehicle was rescued by villagers.
Being one of the two important highways in the state, authorities took up construction of a new bridge at the same location.
A joint team of National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and 52 Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army was engaging in the construction of the new bailey bridge.
Meanwhile, CPI Manipur State Council on Wednesday pressed the Prime Minister of India to replace the bailey bridge by an RCC bridge.
Addressing a press conference at the party office, CPI state secretary L Sotinkumar reminded a promise made by the incumbent Prime Minister to convert the Imphal-Jiribam section of the highway into a four-lane one and replace of bailey bridges on this stretch of the road by RCC bridges if BJP came to power in the state.
“However, the present condition of the highway is pitiful. The Prime Minister’s promise is yet to be translated into work”, he alleged. The CPI leader further alleged that the progress of the construction of RCC bridges on Makru and Barak rivers on this stretch of the highway is also very slow.
“Works should be speed up for early completion and steps should be taken up to construct an RCC bridge on Irang river immediately”, he demanded.
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