Amlarem MLA Lahkmen Rymbui today questioned the Meghalaya government about the logic of setting a height limit of 2.80 metres for vehicles using the Umiam Dam bridge.
The limit is for vehicles that weigh a maximum of 9 tonnes and/or which have a height of 2.80m. The vehicles should also be single axle.
Rymbui questioned what relevance the height of a vehicle would have on the safety of the bridge, which, commonsense would dictate, should be affected by a vehicle’s weight and not height. In response, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who holds the Public Works Department (Roads) portfolio, failed to answer the question clearly. He said that the height limit was put in place after a study was conducted and that night super buses are usually above 2.80m in height and, therefore, a restriction was placed to avoid an untoward incident.
Nongkrem MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit questioned if there are weighbridges installed at either end of the Umiam Dam bridge to check vehicle weight. Tynsong replied that the authorities sometimes face problems in checking vehicle weight, so the restriction on height (which is easier to gauge) is a helpful substitute. He added that CCTVs have been installed and 24×7 security personnel have been deployed and are on the job to monitor vehicular weight.
Tynsong was also asked about the alternative route that is on the cards to bypass the Umiam Dam. There are currently alternative routes but these are two-lane and extend journey times considerably. Rymbui cited the extra cost of transporting goods from Guwahati along the Shillong Bypass up to Mawryngkneng and then bringing them to Shillong.
The Deputy CM said that the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) is undertaking the project and will prepare the detailed project report (DPR) and detailed survey.
Tynsong acknowledged the higher transport costs due to the ban on heavy vehicles using the Umiam Dam route. “We are about to complete the project, which is the VIP road, under construction and length is about 23km connecting to Umroi Airport and the completion of this project is more or less to be completed by end of this year and once this is completed I am sure even night super and heavy trucks can ply through this new approach road,” Tynsong mentioned.
Joining in, Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope asked about alignment of the four-lane road from Umiam to Shillong. Tynsong said that it will start from ICAR then traverse MeECL land and then come down to the industrial estate and it will touch downstream of the existing bridge in Umiam dam and survey will come upto Marten landfill and the connection of four-lane will end at Umshyrpi bridge in Shillong.
Mylliem MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh enquired about the status of Shillong Western Bypass and that if it is expedited it will ease the load at Umiam Dam, to which Tynsong responded that the Shillong Western Bypass project is on and that he was glad to inform that it will be completed at the stipulated time and that the progress of the work is highly satisfactory.
