Fragile condition of Ri-Manar Bridge highlighted at awareness programme in East Jaintia Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 13, 2024

The Office of the District Transport Officer, East Jaintia Hills District in collaboration with the District Administration, East Jaintia Hills District on June 12 organized an awareness programme in respect of maintenance of the Ri- Manar Bridge which is located at Samasi Village under Sutnga-Saipung Block.

Present during the awareness programme were District Transport Officer (DTO), East Jaintia Hills District, P. Laloo, Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), H. Dkhar, Enforcement Inspector, K. Tynsong, Junior Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), NEC, Sutnga, L. Shadap, Daloi Elaka Sumer, K. Mannar, traditional heads, villagers and many others.

Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), East Jaintia Hills District, H. Dkhar in his speech during the programme expressed concern with regards to the fragile condition of the bridge and highlighted to the gathering the several causes which led to the feebleness of the bridge even as he expressed a note of caution to drivers driving along this particular bridge to avoid overloading while crossing the bridge in order to avoid accidents.

Further, he also emphasized on the need of maintaining the structure of the bridge as it stands as the backbone of communication for the people of the area even as he urged upon the gathering to cooperate with concerned departments including the Transport, PWD and Police Departments and to spread the massage to people especially drivers not to drive overloaded vehicles through this bridge in order to maintain its structure and in order to avoid accidents.

Meanwhile, Enforcement Inspector, East Jaintia Hills District, K. Tynsong spoke at length on the significance and importance of maintaining the bridge as it is the only mode of transportation for people of villages located in the area and took the occasion to appeal to drivers to obey traffic regulations and to not overload their vehicles especially while crossing this bridge.

While speaking during the awareness programme, the Daloi of Elaka Sumer, K. Mannar also traditional heads of the area reiterated their concerns over the condition of the bridge even as they urged upon the PWD Department to send a proposal to the government for construction of a new bridge in order to alleviate the problems faced by commuters through this stretch of the road.

Other who spoke during the programme include Junior Engineer (JE), Public Works Department (PWD), NEC, Sutnga, L. Shadap, Daloi, Elaka Sumer, K. Mannar, Headman of Samasi, B. Paslein, Headman of Mynthlu Village, N. War and Headman of Kremmyrsiang Village, H. Nongsiej. DPRO, Khliehriat.