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DIMAPUR — The road over bridge (ROB) near DDSC Stadium, a vital lifeline for Dimapur’s traffic for nearly five decades, is finally undergoing much-needed rehabilitation. The work commenced on Tuesday, October 1 after a series of assessments and delays, with an expected completion time of three months.
Inaugurated in January 1973, the ROB has served as a vital link for the citizens of Nagaland. However, time and heavy usage have taken their toll. In 2022, the Public Works Department (NH) commissioned CE Testing, a consultancy firm from Kolkata, to evaluate the bridge's structural integrity.
“Based on their report, two out of the nine spans were identified as weak,” explained SDO Akumdong Walling of PWD (NH), speaking at the construction site. These two spans, located beneath the bridge from the Hotel Tragopan end, will be completely demolished and rebuilt using a reinforced earth (RE) wall.
Walling said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, after reviewing the assessment report, approved a rehabilitation project with a budget of INR 2.68 crore. Following a tendering process, the contract was awarded to M/s Innovative Construction.
Although the project received sanction in 2023 and the work order was issued in July of the same year, the commencement was delayed due to challenges in finalising a traffic diversion plan, particularly for heavy vehicles.
The Dimapur bypass road, which is under the purview of NHIDCL, is still under construction with around 80% to 90% of works completed. However, given the structural weakness of the ROB, the government of Nagaland has issued a notification to divert traffic and utilise the bypass road.
The ROB was initially maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) before being handed over to PWD (NH). Walling stated that bridges of this nature are typically designed for a lifespan of approximately 100 years.
He said that the department will be supervising and monitoring the work around the clock. The department has already held a meeting with the contractor and urged them to expedite the project to complete it within three months, despite the original six-month timeline, he said.
Furthermore, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dimapur has already evicted around 90 to 95 illegal settlers residing beneath the bridge. However, one building near the bridge is likely to be affected during the demolition of the weak spans. The DC has been informed and has assured the department that the matter will be addressed, Walling said.
Litangba Sangtam, Project Manager for M/s Innovative Construction, confirmed that the first two spans will be completely dismantled and rebuilt.
He said that the firm will also repair the footpath, parapet wall, pavement, and other damaged areas of the bridge and if there are no hindrances, the work can be completed within three months, as requested by the department.
Sangtam also admitted that the demolition would affect a nearby house and expressed hope that the administration would resolve the issue swiftly to expedite the demolition work.