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Dimapur, April 14 (EMN): Dimapur Traffic Police (DTP) on Friday enforced the two-day trial run of route diversion and restriction of the Dimapur-Chümoukedima-Niuland traffic flow.
The trial run is undertaken to assess the traffic flow and volume, and its feasibility in relation to the proposed rehabilitation works of the ‘Road Over Bridge’ (ROB) near Hotel Tragopan on NH-29.
On these two days (April 14 and the 15th), the ROB will be completely cut off from both sides for any kind of vehicular movement.
The Old Over-Bridge of Dimapur or ROB, which is now more than more than fifty years old since its inauguration in January 1973 by the then PWD Minister Koramoa Jamir, is in a dilapidated condition due to the alleged negligence by the authority concerned.
The condition of the bridge, one of the first completed bridges in Northeast India, seems to be deteriorating day by day.
The railings are seeing falling apart, the slabs crumbling with rods protruding from them, posing grave threat to commercial vehicles, passenger buses and private vehicles which ply on the bridge every day.
Additional Police Commissioner, Traffic, Kr Ngimchule Nampeung, told this reporter that the traffic at Nagarjan Road has become completely saturated as one of the main city roads - Burma Camp Road - has been diverted towards Nagarjan Road.
The traffic officer said that based on their calculations, Friday has relatively less traffic compared to Saturday. Based on the study of the traffic volume on these two days, Traffic Police will chart the best course of action when the actual rehabilitation work begins. This will enable them to divert the routes smoothly and minimise disruptions in traffic flow.
Nampeung also said that so far, they not received any complaint and added commuters and passengers have been very cooperative in the diversion exercise.
The APC Traffic mentioned that they are doing their best to manage the traffic within the limits of their capabilities. However, due to limited road infrastructure, they have to make use of the roads available and manage the traffic as efficiently as possible.
One of the traffic police personnel on duty said after the two-day trial run, the higher authorities would give further orders on how to proceed with the traffic management plan.
A resident living near the ROB area stated that whenever heavy vehicles pass over the bridge, cement would fall off, indicating the deteriorating condition of the bridge.
Another resident recalled that some years ago, officials visited the bridge for repairs. However, the officials concluded that repairing would not be enough, as even after repairs, the bridge would still be damaged if heavy vehicles continue to pass ply over it.
As a result, they opted to rebuild the bridge.
Sources said people residing nearby the ROB have so far not received any order of evacuation from the government.