Despite repeated warnings from authorities concerned, vehicles continue to ply on the British-era bridge at Nagarjan (Kuda) over the Dhansiri river.
It may be recalled that cracks appeared on the bridge after its foundations went off-kilter on July 20 last year, barely 10 days after the collapse of the 4th Mile bridge that resulted in four deaths.
On Sunday, fresh photos of cracks under the bridge circulated widely on social media, thereby highlighting severity of the danger.
However, when contacted, Roads & Bridges Executive Engineer, Talitemsu Jamir told Nagaland Post that these cracks were not new and that they had been there since last year.
“But that does not make the bridge any less dangerous,” he was quick to add.
According to him, the fact that vehicles were still using the bridge despite warnings was now an administrative issue.
After a ban ordered in January this year on restricting use of the bridge by Dimapur deputy commissioner Sushil Kumar Patel, barricades were erected to prevent vehicles from using the bridge, which, however, were promptly burnt down by miscreants.
It may also be recalled that Jamir himself had issued an appeal on March 21 this year urging the public to not use the bridge as it was not safe.
Asked if there were any plans to make temporary arrangements to enable commuters to cross the river by using hume pipes or some other similar arrangement, Talitemsu lamented that this was not possible due to land ownership issues.
“It’s almost like we are waiting for the disaster to happen, although of course that is not really the case,” he explained.
On the current construction work underway to build a new bridge, the executive engineer said work was progressing quite fast given the circumstances.
He said the contractor, who took up the work in October 2017, was given 18 months to complete the task. However, the contractor had not been paid even once, he added.
“Considering that he has started work without payment in the interest of public service, it would be good if he starts getting paid,” Talitemsu remarked.