Shillong, Feb 3: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong has said repairing of the Sonapur bridge over Lukha River in East Jaintia Hills district will be completed within 45 days.
After the bridge developed cracks, the government had sought recommendation of the expert team from Delhi.
“The finding of the team is to repair it immediately. The project director of National Highway Authority of India is on the job to start repairing of this bridge,” Tynsong told reporters on Thursday.
The district administration has restricted movement of commercial vehicles through the bridge.
The bridge, which is around 100 meters and constructed by the BRO, connects Meghalaya with the rest of Northeastern states.
Umiam bridge
On Umiam bridge, the deputy chief minister said, “Experts had already done the exercise of plus and minus of the structure and hence restriction to weight had already been imposed”.
Alternative route to Guwahati
Regarding the proposal of the state government to construct a road from Jingkieng Kalong to Umiam, he said there are lots of formalities to be done in this regard.
“In fact, I have already asked my team of engineers to workout if there is any other option where we can bypass the existing main dam bridge,” he said.
Western bypass
On Shillong Western bypass, the deputy chief minister said once the bypass is ready, many commercial vehicles will not ply via Umiam bridge.
“We have already asked both the district collectors of East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi to start the proceedings of land acquisition,” he said.
Regarding Dwarksuid bridge, the deputy chief minister said the work order will be issued very soon by the ministry and it will take hardly one year to complete the reconstruction of the entire stretch.
