Shillong, Sept 8: Power Minister AT Mondal said bearings will be placed under Umiam bridge as part of retrofitting initiative.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mondal said in the preliminary report, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) indicated that the Umiam bridge is in a good condition but the bearings of the bridge have to be replaced to expand its lifespan.
This was after the IITG had conducted an inspection of the bridge.
“As per preliminary report, they are telling that the bridge is in a good condition but the bearing of the bridge has to be replaced. Accordingly, we have placed an order to the company which is manufacturing these bearings and a renowned party also has been engaged for that,” he said.
A joint committee between the engineers of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) and Public Works Department (PWD) have been constituted to examine the proposed retrofitting of the bridge.
“Very soon, they will be submitting their report then this matter will be discussed among ourselves and may be in the cabinet on how we go ahead. So everything is okay, we will fix a date,” he said.
The minister said the public will be informed when the bridge will be literally lifted for changing or replacing the bearings.
“So things are on its course and on the day these bearings will be replaced, traffic will be put to standstill means no traffic will be allowed to pass through the bridge for a maximum 8 hours. Then after 8 hours, only light vehicles will be allowed to pass through the bridge meaning on the day when the bridge will be lowered again traffic will not be allowed to pass through the bridge. After putting down its original position again the traffic will be allowed to pass,” he said.
During this period, no vehicles will be allowed to pass through the bridge, he said.
According to the minister, the public works department is exploring alternative routes.
