Dimapur
Nagarjan and Chathe bridges in Dimapur expected to be completed soon
Manpower and cement supply issues hit construction works
Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 11 (EMN): Though most construction works in and around Dimapur have come to a standstill due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the construction of two important bridges — one at Nagarjan (Kuda B Khel) and the other at 4th mile — are still underway at a ‘reasonably good pace’.
An official from the Public Works department (PWD) informed Eastern Mirror that both bridges are almost complete, especially the one over Dhansiri river at Nagarjan.
“The Nagarjan Bridge was almost completed a month ago; hand rails have also been completed and wing walls are under construction now,” he informed.
The official said that once the wing walls are installed, the approach road on both ends of the bridge would be completed, as it is also a part of the bridge component.
As for the bridge over Chathe River at 4th Mile, the last deck slab was casted last week, it was informed.
“All the decks at Chathe River bridge have been done (sic); wing wall will come up after which backfilling will be done,” the official said.
The official added that these bridges are expected to be completed in a month or two (approximately).
It may be mentioned that a reliable source from the PWD had told this newspaper in February this year that the stipulated time for completion of these projects was April.
The reason for the delay in completion of the Nagarjan and Chathe bridges, the official said, was due to less manpower caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was informed that lot of labourers went back to their native villages though some had stayed back.
The main issue cited by the official was that there was no supply of cement due to lockdown and ‘all borders were shut’.
Further, it was informed that out of the stipulated INR 35 crore, only INR 9.5 crore has been paid to the contractor of the Nagarjan Bridge.
Fourth deck slab casting work of the bridge over Chathe river in Dimapur nearing completion.
