DIMAPUR — The ongoing rehabilitation works at
the road over bridge (ROB) near DDSC Stadium are expected to be completed by
the end of this month, with traffic likely to open by January 31 or February 1.
Litangba Sangtam, the project manager of Innovative
Construction, informed that the approach concrete slab work connecting spans 2
and 3 of the bridge has been completed and is currently in the curing process.
According to him, the work has been slightly delayed due to
additional tasks assigned by the department concerned, which includes
constructing a retaining wall to enhance the bridge's safety.
He said that the remaining work includes blacktopping the
approach road leading to the bridge span; however, this will be undertaken only
after all the bridge work is complete.
It is worth noting that the rehabilitation works commenced
on October 1 last year after a series of assessments and delays, with an
expected completion time of three months, i.e., December. However, the target
has now been extended to January.
This bridge was inaugurated in January 1973; 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.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, after reviewing
the assessment report, approved a rehabilitation project with a budget of INR
2.68 crore, which was awarded to the building firm Innovative Construction.
Although the project received sanction in 2023 and the work
order was issued in July of the same year, the commencement of the work was
delayed due to challenges in finalising the traffic diversion plan,
particularly for heavy vehicles.
