Nagaland ropes in engineers from New Delhi, Tirupati to inspect Shozukhu-Zukihe Bridge

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Feb. 21 (EMN): Nearly four months after the Khaghaboto Tokukujo Kukami Kukhakulu (KTKK) — Khaghaboto area GB association — demanded the state government to look into the deteriorating condition of the Shozukhu-Zukihe Bridge foundation by deputing experts for inspection, two engineers from New Delhi and Tirupati have been roped in to oversee the construction work.

The engineers inspected the Shozukhu-Zukihe Bridge along with the local leaders on February 21.

Aman Deep Garg, a chartered engineer from New Delhi, said after inspecting the bridge that the important aspect of the foundation and flow of the river were taken as the most important matter.

“We will have to investigate by tests and based on the results, we will move forward,” Garg said. He also informed that measurements will be taken in the next two days after which a proposal will be sent to the government.

In October 2019, the KTKK informed that the work was awarded to M/s Pabscon in 2005 and stipulated to be completed within 24 months but was abandoned due to an issue between the department of Roads and Bridges (R&B) and Pabscon. So, the Khaghaboto area GBs association, with the support of the public, decided to immediately resume the construction work of the abandoned Shozukhu-Zukihe Bridge with their own resources as it is the lifeline of not only Sumi villages but also other villages, especially when there is bandh in Assam.

The head GB of Shozukhu village, Ghozheto Aye, told Eastern Mirror that around 57 Sema villages and many villages of various tribes were affected due to the inaccessibility of the bridge.

“The supply of basic commodities like vegetables and rice has drastically gone down because of this (lack of bridge) and supply to the rest of Nagaland is low because the bridge isn’t fixed,” Aye said.

The inspection on Friday was the third since October last year. The bridge was last inspected by the principal of Kamrup Polytechnic, Guwahati on February 3. He is expected to submit his report containing geotechnical and structural aspects soon.

The Khaghaboto area GB association and the public lauded Minister of PHED Jacob Zhimomi for rendering help and intervening for the timely construction of the bridge.