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Dimapur, Feb. 26 (EMN): The construction work of some developmental projects in Nagaland may have been hit by cash flow crunch but the contractor undertaking the construction works of Nagarjan and Chathe bridges is said to be trying to complete the projects on time to ease the plight of the public.
A reliable source from the Public Works Department (PWD), Nagaland, told Eastern Mirror that out of the stipulated INR 35 crore, only INR 9.5 crore has been paid to the contractor undertaking the Nagarjan Bridge (Kuda B Khel) in Dimapur.
“Only 17% of the payment has been made to the contractor of Nagarjan Bridge but the bridge is expected to be completed by April this year,” said the source. It added that 70% of the work has been completed and two labour groups are working on each end of the bridge simultaneously.
The source also informed that work for the approach road leading to Nagarjan Bridge will start only after full payment is made to the contractor on completion of the project (bridge).
“Contractors also need that liability to ensure that full payment is made; then only they will start constructing the approach road,” said the source, maintaining that the government will also be pressured by the public to make the bridge accessible.
Further, it was informed that shuttering is going on for the girders and casting will be done in a day or two.
When asked what would happen to the old bridge, the source shared that the previous government wanted to preserve it but now, it all depends on the present ruling government.
“The bridge is partially damaged; the new government will decide what to do with it,” said the source, hinting that it might just be a walkway for pedestrians.
As for Chathe Bridge near the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), the source informed that it is also expected to be completed by April this year with three out of five girders already completed.
“The same case goes with Chathe Bridge; only after full payment is made, the approach road will begin,” the official said, adding that even if the monsoon season arrives, the road will be completed and ‘hopefully made accessible by May.’