The much-neglected Road Over Bridge (ROB) near DDSC stadium, which has suffered from decades of wear and tear, is finally set to undergo substantial repairs after 50 years of service.
Following several reports published in this newspaper since 2012 about the deteriorating condition of the RoB, the state government has officially sanctioned the long-awaited project, which is set to commence soon.
Speaking exclusively to this reporter, PWD (NH) SDO Akumdong Walling shared details regarding the plan. He said evaluation conducted by CE Testing, a Kolkata-based consultancy firm, identified two, of the total nine spans of the bridge, as structurally weak and in need of replacement.
He disclosed that the two spans would be demolished and rebuilt with re-enforced earth (RE) walls to enhance the bridge’s durability. Asked whether other repair works would be carried out on the bridge, the SDO replied that the project was not limited to replacement of weak spans, but also included restoration of pavement, footpaths, and crash barriers.
Additionally, he said shotcreting (applying concrete to damaged surfaces) would also be carried out to rehabilitate exposed sections of the road.
He further revealed that the Ministry of Road Transport & Highway (MoRTH) had given Rs 2.68 crore as per the consultancy’s test report for rehabilitation of the ROB, adding that work has been allocated to a local Naga firm, M/s Innovative Construction. He said the timeframe for completion of the project was six months, but considering the bridge’s critical role in Dimapur’s traffic flow, the department had urged the contractor to expedite the work. In response, he mentioned that the firm had committed to completing the repairs within three months, provided no hindrance occurred during the execution of the work.
Given the heavy traffic along the ROB, Walling said the department had also requested the contractor to simultaneously work on various sections of the bridge to minimise the duration of road closure and reduce traffic disruptions. “We have asked the contractor to start working on multiple sections concurrently to avoid prolonged inconvenience to the public,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur Dr Tinojongshi Chang said National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) had requested for extension of 10 days, which was however denied since the state government had already issued notice for closure of the bridge from October 1.