Around thousand trucks remained stranded on National Highway under Ri Bhoi district for the last three days due to renovation works carried out on the Bailey Bridge that has suffered three damages so far.
These trucks carrying essential and non-essential goods are stranded at Umsning by-pass and at Quinine.
Truckers Highland Post spoke to say the goods are at risk of damage. They said essential goods like fish, vegetables and fruits are getting rotten as they could not reach their destination on time especially during the pandemic where markets are opened only on specified days by authorities.
The cause of concern not only lies with the goods these truckers had to ferry but. Most of them said they had to go to sleep without food as most of the shops remained closed.
Their appeal to the State government was to consider construction of a new bridge because with no other alternative bridge, they fear that that same problem will reoccur.
The Bailey Bridge across the Dwar Ksuid on the Shillong bypass has developed defects thrice. The Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner had suspended plying of vehicles every night from 7 pm to 6 am till July 15.
It may be noted, the newly constructed bridge was inaugurated on March 25 this year. Personnel of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) worked tirelessly and completed the bridge in a record time of five days.
The project was taken up under SARDP-NE and the bridge can support a heavy vehicle with a load below 40 metric tons.
