Transporters refute

IMPHAL, Oct 19: The All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union has rejected the claim made by one Krisna of BIPL that Makru, Barak and Irang bridges broke down due to overloading of  trucks by transporters plying on Imphal-Jiribam highway (NH 37).
A press release issued by the union’s general secretary Maimom Anil Meitei contended that the three bridges broke down due to the authorities’ failure to maintain them properly and complete construction of new RCC bridges in time.
The existing aged hanging and suspension bridges are no longer fit for the highway.
Anil alleged that BRO and NHIDCL have been delaying construction of new Barak, Makru and Irang bridges deliberately with an ulterior motive to turn these projects into their ‘gold mine’.
When BPIL and NHIDCL are more interested in earning more profit through revision of the projects’ rates by keeping the projects incomplete beyond the specified completion periods, they cannot blame transporters for the breakdown of the three bridges, Anil asserted.
The transporters do not load their trucks beyond the permissible limits. According to the Motor Vehicle Act, trucks with six wheels can carry  up to 19 tonnes, 10 wheels up to 28 tonnes and 12 wheels up to 40 tonnes and these regulations  are well known to the transporters, he said.
Urging the NHIDCL and BIPL to expedite the bridge construction works, he said that the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union is prepared to file a PIL in the Court on the matter.