Irang Bridge to be replaced with stronger one

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 9: The exis-ting Irang Bridge of Imphal -Jiribam highway (NH 37) would be replaced with a new bailey bridge which can withstand greater pressure and weight.
The maximum tonnage permissible on the existing Irang Bridge which is located near Taubang village is 24 tonnes but it would be replaced by a new bailey bridge which is stronger, informed a well placed source.
The new bailey bridge which would be supplied by Kolkata based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited would be able to withstand 40 tonnes, according to the source.
Notably, Irang Bridge sank partially as the water current of Irang River swelled following heavy rainfall at around 1 pm of May 13. As a result, NH-37 was cut off.
As the highway was cut off, vehicles have been moving on Rengpang-Bishnupur road via Khoupum and Joujengtak.
While Bishnupur-Joujengtak road is an ADB road, Joujengtak-Khoupum-Rengpang road is classified as a major district road and its maintenance is done by the State PWD, informed the source.
Joujengtak-Khoupum-Rengpang road is around 49 Kms in length and it has intermediate width.
As a result of movement of heavy vehicles after Imphal-Jiribam highway was cut off, Joujengtak-Khoupum-Rengpang road has deteriorated quite badly.
Even though it is a major district road, it is being used as a National Highway. As such, the State PWD has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to construct/repair the road out of its funds, the source informed.
Meanwhile, the PWD Additional Chief Engineer (National Highway) made an inspection of Joujengtak-Khoupum-Rengpang road yesterday.
If the MoRTH agrees to the State PWD’s proposal to repair the road which has been damaged very badly because of movement of a large number of heavy vehicles, the State PWD would prepare a DPR and initiate due process to repair the road, said the source.  Moreover, necessary documents have been already sent to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for upgrading Joujengtak-Khoupum-Rengpang road to the level of a National Highway, added the source.