North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum has called upon the state government to reconsider the closure dates of the under repair Umiam bridge that will begin on March 31, which falls on Easter Sunday.
In a letter to Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal, Nongrum drew his attention that since Easter Sunday is an important day with many wanting to travel, the government should reschedule the closure dates to minimise inconvenience to the public.
“The predicament arises due to the government’s decision to allow heavily loaded trucks exceeding a capacity of 9 tons to pass, despite repeated pleas from the public to restrict such entries. This oversight has led to the bridge’s closure during a critical time when people rely on it for various purposes including religious gatherings and festivities,” Nongrum said.
He also proposed that the appropriate dates to begin the closure is from April 1 to 9.
The Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL) has scheduled replacement of bearings and expansion joints of the spillway bridges at Umiam dam and announced complete traffic halt on the Umiam bridge for six hours on March 31 from 8 am to 2 pm.
Further, from 2 pm of March 31 to 7 am of April 8, half lane of the bridge will be open for traffic but only for vehicles up to four tons of weight. Vehicles having total height up to 2.5 metres from the ground (including carriers, etc) would be allowed to pass during this period.
From 7 am onwards of April 8, vehicles up to 15 tons will be allowed on one lane of the bridge.
Alternative routes have also been announced for vehicles during the period from March 31 to April 8.
For light vehicles, the alternative routes include Shillong – Mawtawar – Umroi Airport – Lad Umroi Road, Shillong – NEIGRIHMS – Diengpasoh – Lad Umroi Road, and UCC – Mawlyndep – Mawmaram Road.
The alternative routes for all vehicles including trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles include Shillong – Laitkor – Mawryngkneng – Lad Umroi Road and Shillong – Mairang – Nongkhlaw – Guwahati Airport Road.
