Rs.37 cr. Sanuorü bridge to be partially opened

November 29, 2020 147 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, NOV 28 (NPN) : One carriageway of the four-lane Sanuorü bridge along the main road connecting Nagaland Secretariat with the rest of Kohima town is expected to be opened for traffic from November 30, 2020.

So far only one carriageway of the four-lane bridge has been completed, but owing to the problems faced by the daily commuters along the makeshift road alongside the bridge, authorities have reportedly decided to partially open it for traffic.

Officials from the PWD (R&B) department working at the site disclosed that other half of the bridge was yet to be completed since the main arch builder had not returned after leaving for his native place due to Covid-19.

It may be recalled that after the culvert, which served as the main connection, had collapsed during the monsoon of 2015 the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H) approved the bridge project under Central Road Fund (CRF) on December 29, 2015. The work order was issued on July 14, 2016 and the bridge was supposed to be completed within 18 months, i.e. in January, 2018. However, the works at the site was hampered because of different reasons including incessant rainfall, massive landslides and citizens’ negligence in throwing garbage that resulted in the clogging the river. The 50-meter long and 17-meter high bridge is yet to see the light of day even after more than four years.

The cost of the bridge was initially pegged at Rs 20 crore when the work was sanctioned, but later escalated to Rs 37 crore, disclosed PWD (R&B) South Division, ‘Kohima, executive engineer, Vizotuo Seletsu during a press briefing in month of July earlier this year.

He had also disclosed that 75% of the work had been completed within 12 months after work had first begun at the site.

Earlier this year in the month of January, the Kohima Village Youth Organization (KVYO) had expressed its unhappiness at the pace of the construction work. To show its resentment over the delay, KVYO restricted movement of BRO/BRTF and government vehicles High School Jn. via Sanuorü bridge to Nagaland Civil secretariat and Pezielietsie via DBS-Billy Graham road to Nagaland Civil secretariat.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/rs-37-cr-sanuor%C3%BC-bridge-to-be-partially-opened/225275.html