The much-awaited RCC T-beam bridge over Dhansiri river connecting Purana Bazar and Super Market was inaugurated by chief minister Neiphiu Rio here on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Rio hoped that the newly-inaugurated bridge would lessen the hardships of commuters by easing traffic and further boost economic activities in the town.
Congratulating the Urban Development department, engineering wing and the contractor, he emphasised on timely completion of road connectivity projects, adding that if a bridge construction took 11 years for completion, one could very well imagine the hardships and harassment faced by the citizens. Though construction of the bridge took over a decade, he expressed happiness that it was finally complete.
He also urged everyone to inculcate Christian values and principles and stop encroaching lands, stressing that whatever one strived to get or acquire, these should be done rightfully without disturbing social harmony.
Pointing out how the State government had to fight legally to get back encroached lands in Agri Expo and airport, Rio remarked that land encroachment was a sign of an individual’s self interest over the community’s and urged the community to help the government protect public property.
As public property like bridges and other government structures belonged to the public, he appealed to the people to protect them, pointed out that if these were not taken care of properly, people would suffer.
The chief minister urged citizens of Dimapur to fully utilise and maintain the bridge for betterment of society, besides following traffic rules to avoid unnecessary accidents.
Observing that six years were wasted by the department due to non-following of formalities, he asked the department and engineers to be sincere, dedicated and follow the rules and procedures and be transparent, so that work execution did not get affected.
Delivering a short speech on the occasion, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs adviser Dr Neikiesalie Nicky Kire said many issues had cropped up during the construction of the bridge, which the department had to overcome before it could be finally inaugurated.
He remarked that even though the bridge was completed, there could still be many complaints, but hoped that it would ease the problems faced by the commuters. He urged all public leaders to assist and partner with the government in helping the public in all developmental initiatives, instead of bickering.
Mentioning that the bridge would help 22 villages of East Dimapur to a great extent, East Dimapur GB Union president Niuto Awomi acknowledged the department for completing the bridge.
Admitting that the issue of land encroachment had cropped up during construction of the bridge, he reminded the gathering that GB union had always emphasised early its completion.
He blamed authorities concern more for the land encroachment problem, alleging that land pattas (registered deeds) were being issued even for small portions near any road. He claimed that land pattas were issued just near the highway in East Dimapur, following which the GB union had demolished houses constructed on them.
He urged the State government to plan constructing a flyover in the town to ease traffic woes.
Referring to Super Market area being allocated to private individuals, Awomi appealed to the government to cancel the patta issued and called for keeping the land as a government property.
He regretted that the State’s only railway was being ignored for developmental activities by the Centre due land encroachment and urged the State government to focus on the issue.
Sharing the technical report, Chief Engineer, PWD (H) & in-charge Urban Engineering Wing, Yanbemo Lotha said the project was sanctioned in March 2009 for an amount of Rs 981.36 lakh (9.814 crore) under the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs.
And after having received the necessary clearance from the State PWD, he said work started on November 18, 2009, but was stopped on December 10, 2010 by Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which insisted on acquiring a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Union ministry of road transport and Highways (MoRTH) before dismantling the old steel girder bridge.
He said the NOC was issued in May 2014 and the work was then formally handed over to urban development on July 7, 2015.
Thereafter, Lotha said the contractor in October 2015 expressed his inability to complete the work as per the original agreed price as the work had already lapsed by about five years. Accordingly, the department revised the project cost to Rs 1,374.85 lakh.
He mentioned that the actual construction of the bridge commenced in January 2018 after dismantling the old steel bridge.
The programme was chaired by Urban Development & Municipal Affairs principal secretary, I Himato Zhimomi and a dedicatory prayer offered by Christian Forum Dimapur chairman Rev Moses Murry. Vote of thanks was delivered by director Urban Development, S Takatuba Aier.