Sharing the photographs of the key bridge getting the final touch, chief minister N Biren Singh took to twitter to express gratitude to prime minister Narendra Modi and union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari for fulfilling “dreams of 28 lakh Manipuri”.
TFM Desk
The Makru Bridge being constructed on NH 37, which is often dubbed as the second lifeline of Manipur, is “ready for inauguration”.
Sharing the photographs of the key bridge getting the final touch, chief minister N Biren Singh took to twitter to express gratitude to prime minister Narendra Modi and union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari for fulfilling “dreams of 28 lakh Manipuri”.
The chief minister tweeted, “Makru bridge will become accessible in June. Dreams of 28 lakh Manipuris are being fulfilled. Thanks to Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji & MoRTH Minister @nitin_gadkari ji that after decades, the first permanent bridge over Makru River on Imphal-Jiri road is ready for inauguration even during this Covid times.”
National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has reportedly finished construction of the Makru Bridge. It is expected to become accessible in June.
Constructed at a cost of around Rs 100 crore sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Biren laid foundation stone for the bridge at the site on October 12, 2017, following which Bhartia Infra Project Limited (BIPL) commenced work on the bridge.
According to a report quoting an official of BIPL, the deck slab casting of the 90-metre long Makru Bridge was completed on May 14. It will take approximately 15 days for curing of the casting, after which the bridge will be blacktopped.
As a result of the NHIDCL’s strict supervision and the State Government’s unstinted support, the construction of Makru Bridge along Imphal-Jiribam highway is making rapid progress and the same project is nearing completion.
With the State Government providing security at the work site round the clock, BIPL has been working on a war footing. As a result, the bridge construction work is making rapid progress, said the report.
For the first time in the North East region, 90-metre long steel truss girder of Makru Bridge has been launched.
All the remaining works including construction of approach roads can be completed by April 30, said the source.
The successful launching of the steel truss girder indicates that the key framework of the bridge has been completed but construction of RCC slabs over the steel truss is yet to be started.
Construction of RCC slabs would be completed within the month of April and after a gap of 28 days for curing, the bridge would be ready for inauguration, according to the source.
The project was tentatively scheduled for inauguration in January and the completion target has been shifted to April.
On account of prohibition on movement of heavy trucks within the State of Meghalaya, heavy trucks transporting several components for the two bridges were stranded for many days and this delayed the bridge construction works further, sources said.
Completion of the project was further delayed as labourers from outside the State could not arrive at the work sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local labourers were found not suited for the job, according to the sources.