Correspondent
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 23
MINISTER for Roads and Bridges, Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu today formally inaugurated the 80-meter long Through Type Steel Super Structured Permanent Bridge at Peducha, National highway-29.
Speaking on the occasion, Azo thanked the Border Roads Organisation, the wife of the Late Contractor Mr. Kedayhu Kent Rengma and Chief Engineer Project Sewak for completing the much needed bridge connecting Dimapur and Kohima.The bridge not only straightens the alignment of the sharp curving stretch of the road, but also reduces the traveling time and makes movement of traffic safer, he said.
Meanwhile, interacting with reporters at the inauguration, Azo said only the availability of funds would determine the condition of roads, which he agreed were in a deplorable state.
He however asserted that in the next three to four years the road condition would improve in the state. He also maintained some visible changes have been made to roads in Dimapur.
On allegations of BJP that the quality of road is bad, he said that “the quality is never compromised and the ongoing construction is being done keeping in mind the quality work”.
In order to oversee the quality of works, he himself has been supervising the road constructions even late at night, he added.
On the improvement of National Highway 29, Azo said it is under BRO and not under state government. Expressing that the state Roads and Bridges department and BRO are maintaining cordial cooperation, he said “since the BRO has not received funds for repairing the NH-29 they are unable to take up the fresh constructions now, but once they receive, it would be done without delay.
He said that the BRO has received fund for only 25 kms, and they are on the job completing almost 4-5 kms from Dimapur side of the Nagaland Gate.
The Peducha Bridge is a through type steep super structure permanent bridge with a span of 80 meter. The pavement has a width of 8.7 meter with 1.5 meter footpath on both sides.
It is a state of the art bridge with total self weight of 600 tonnes in which approximately 280 tonnes of steel has been used.
The bridge was opened for light vehicles on December 1 last in view of the escalation of traffic due to the Hornbill Festival but was today opened for all types of traffic by Azo.
The dedicatory prayer of the bridge was pronounced by Fr. Elow Samuel of Zubza Catholic Church.
Project Sewak CE Vinod Kumar, Commandant 15th BRTF Col. Tejpal Singh, Commissioner Secretary Roads & Bridges and Commissioner Nagaland, Temjen Toy, village leaders/elders of Zubza and Peducaha and host of other dignitaries were also present during the inaugural programme, which was chaired by Captain P. Ghosh.
