• Cracks which developed at the Nagarjan Bridge has now widened into a big fracture
• Four educational institutions urge govt to thoroughly inspect bridge for safety hazards
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 30
The vertical crack running across the middle of the 90-year old bridge over the Dhansiri River at Kuda (Nagarjan) has precariously widened into a big fracture- posing potential threat to pedestrian who walk across it every day.
What was earlier a few inches of cracks across the width of the bridge, upon inspection on Wednesday by The Morung Express, had widened into nearly a foot of crevice, exposing the river beneath in certain areas, apparently due to the heavy rainfall in the recent days.
This has prompted the question whether the bridge is even safe for pedestrian traffic. The historic bridge which was built during British time has been closed for vehicular traffic since July 20, 2017 onwards, on directives from the District Administration.
While both sides of the bridge have been fenced to ensure that no vehicles travel across the bridge, pedestrians are allowed to commute across the bridge. But with the crack widening into a large indentation over the recent days, commuters on Wednesday expressed worry if the bridge was going to last before a new bridge is constructed as assured by the State Government.
“We have been observing the crack in the bridge widening gradually, but in a matter of days, the crack developed into a big gap, this is frightening.” Merensangla, who teaches at Salt Christian College of Teacher Education at Police Colony, and cross the bridge daily from full Nagarjan told The Morung Express.
Every day, commuters including those attending offices and hundreds of school students walk across the weakening bridge to the waiting passenger auto-rickshaws parked at the edge of the bridge to school and different destinations. “We have been noticing the widening of the gap in the middle of the bridge,” an auto-rickshaw driver who ferry passengers towards town also informed.
It may be recalled that on August 3, 2017 Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang, during inspection of the bridge had announced that temporary suspension bridges would be constructed immediately at 4th mile and Nagarjan and new concrete bridges would be completed by June 2018.
While the suspension bridge at 4th mile is already complete and open for public thoroughfare; the fate of when the suspension bridge at Nagarjan would be completed could not be ascertained.
Meanwhile, four schools from Kuda village jurisdiction namely NN Naga Schoool, Greenwood Higher Secondary School, New Horizon School and Government Higher Secondary School, Dimapur has urged the State Government and the concerned department to make a thorough inspection of the bridge for any safety hazards, which it felt, is imperative for the safety of the pedestrians.
A joint press statement received from the four educational institutions, said the public should be informed of the safety status report of the bridge- whether it is still safe for the students to walk across it.
It also reminded of the assurance given by the Chief Minister that a bailey bridge would be completed within a span of two months, which would serve as an alternative for the pedestrians.
For years there had been tell-tale of the weakening structure of the Nagarjan Bridge. And despite the signs of corrosion and warnings from the original builders of the bridge, the concerned department showed little signs of repairing the bridge except erecting the side railings that are attached to bridge.
Sources cited documents received from the British government which stated vital repairs were recommended in 1995. The bridge was built during the World War I era by the British government. A letter warning the government of Nagaland about the condition of the bridge was received by the PWD (H) office, Dimapur twenty-two (22) years back!
