The bearings of the Umiam bridge will be replaced as part of retrofitting of the bridge and the process will be carried out after receipt of the safety audit of the bridge from IIT Guwahati.
Informing this to media persons here today, Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal mentioned that test on the safety of the bridge has been done by IIT Guwahati but the test report is yet to be received.
However, Mondal said that the Umiam bridge it is in good condition although its bearing needs replacement.
It may be mentioned that numerous questions and debates have come up relating to the safety of Umiam bridge.
A safety audit of the bridge, commissioned in 1965, has shown that it has surpassed its lifespan.
Meanwhile, the State government has set up a joint committee of engineers from Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) and Public Works Department (PWD) to frame the modalities regarding traffic regulation during and after the change of the bridge’s bearings.
According to Mondal, the joint committee will submit is report to him and if needed the report will be taken up at the cabinet on how to go ahead.
“We will inform the public regarding the dates that the bridge will be lifted for changing or replacing the new bearings. So things are in course. Traffic will be put to a standstill not allowing any vehicle movement for maximum of eight hours and once allowed, only light vehicle will be allowed to pass through the bridge,” he explained.
Mondal also said that when the bridge will be lowered, traffic will not be allowed to pass through and after the original positioning of the bridge, traffic will be allowed except heavy vehicles.
The Power minister also requested IIT Guwahati to speed up the process of submission of its report on the safety test conducted on the bridge so that the joint committee of engineers can study it and decide the next course of action.
