TDC clears passage for stranded trucks along Imphal-Jiri line
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 12 2012:
Goods-laden trucks stranded near Jiribam for the last many days owing to poor condition of the Imphal-Jiribam section of National Highway 37 have started to arrive here following road repairing activities carried out by the Transporters' and Drivers' Council.
A TDC team led by its president H Ranjit, reportedly laid 77 truck loads of stones/boulders at different locations of the Highway since September 8.The stones/boulders were laid at places where trucks get stuck due to slushy condition of the road.
The TDC team returned here yesterday.
It is said that out of about 800 loaded trucks stranded at Jiribam area, nearly 100 arrived here this afternoon.
Speaking to newspersons today, H Ranjit lamented that repeated appeals to the Government of Manipur for making the Highway conducive to transport operators had failed to evoke positive response consequently prompting the Council to undertake the road repairing work from its own resources.
Out of 77 truckloads of boulders, six were laid at Makru areas with the help of drivers and their assistants, said Ranjit, who also described the Makru section as the most unsuitable terrain for the transport operators to negotiate.
The remaining loads have been unloaded at the TDC complex in Jiribam as darkness hindered the road repairing initiatives, he maintained.
Stating that the road section in between Leingangpokpi to Makru, Makru to Keimai and from Nungdolan to Barak are in the worst condition, Ranjit alleged that Border Roads Organisation personnel are laying earth instead of stones/boulders which has only deteriorated the condition of the road in these sections.
He further noted that volume of vehicular traffic has increased substantially on the highway due to regular movement of heavily loaded on the highway due to regular movement of heavily loaded trucks carrying 25-30 tonnes of construction materials for the ongoing rail-line works.
While questioning BRO authorities' decision of not allowing vehicles to cross the bridges at Golarthon and Leinganpokpi areas near Jiribam inspite of completion of the bridge construction work, the TDC president also contended that lack of initiative by the BRO to repair the diversion road at the time of the bridge construction work had resulted in many trucks either stuck in the slush or turning turtle.
Ranjit also drew the attention of the authority concerned to undertake all possible measures for ensuring passage of vehicles on these bridges at the earliest.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the working style of the BRO personnel, he charged BRO authorities of lacking commitment in the development of the Highway and urged the State's Works Minister to initiate appropriate measures in public interest.
Further accusing the BRO authorities of incompetency to even collect road repairing materials, Ranjit informed that on the request of the BRO authorities three truck loads of boulders were provided to them.
As BRO made no official intimation further request for more boulders was rejected and consequently the remaining loads are being stock-piled at the TDC complex for use whenever or wherever necessary, Ranjit asserted.
Categorically stating that TDC do believe the Monitoring Committee, formed to periodically assess condition of the Highway and BRO's work activities, to deliver justice, he also maintained that even though TDC is also a Committee member it will not take part in the September 14 inspection visit of the Committee.
He iterated that as TDC had already inspected the Highway on its own and is in no doubt about the poor condition of the Highway TDC considers the proposed inspection visit as irrelevant.
Ranjit, nevertheless, maintained that TDC would closely study whether or not the Committee's inspection report submitted to the Court is actually translated into action.
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