‘Bridge elevated approach’ claims one life

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 8 : News of unfortunate road accidents around Kiyamgei Pal Ahanbi Bridge continue to surface as the bridge's elevated approach extending to the road proves to be hazardous for commuters.
Just today, Laitonjam Robert, Deputy Secretary, Manipur Legislative Assembly lost his life in a fatal road accident here.
In this connection, Peace & Integrity Committee Kiyamgei (PICK) and All Kiyamgei Nupi Chaokhat Thourang Lup have urged the Government to take action against the contractor concerned and officials of PWD involved in the "unlawful" construction of the Kiyamgei Pal Ahanbi Bridge along the Asian Highway-2 (Indo-Myanmar Road).
Speaking to media persons near Kiyamgei Pal Ahanbi today, Chingakham Meghachandra, convenor, PICK said that in tackling the elevation level of the bridge, a portion of the Asian Highway-2 adjoining the bridge was also elevated upto the median point.
Saying that this has put the safety of commuters at risk, he added that the contractor also tore down the black topping from one half of the road in the name of bridge construction work.
As Leishang Hiden is also located here, there is heavy fog from 6 pm to 7 am during winter. This makes the area more hazardous to travellers due to visibility issues, he added.
When complaints in this regard were raised to the Keirao AC MLA, he sided with the locals and added that PWD had been told to not construct the bridge as it was covered under the Ring Road project.
Chingakham Megha-chandra further pointed out that the problem has affected numerous people as the Imphal campus of Chu-rachandpur Medical College is located at Kyamgei on top of many educational and health institutions.
To prevent unfortunate road accidents from happening in the future, he urged the authority concerned to set up barricades or a traffic island at this high-risk site.
If the Government does not blacklist the contractor at the earliest, he said the two organisations will lodge an FIR against him and initiate legal action.
Additionally, the Public Works Department and the contractor should be held accountable for Laitonjam Robert's death, he maintained.