Village council bans heavy vehicles on KJB sub-highway bridge

Censures department for failing to renovate the deteriorating bridge

Dimapur, December 2 (MExN): New Chumukedima Village Council has banned plying of heavy vehicles on the KJB sub-highway bridge over Chathe river at New Chumukedima Village “due to its perilous state.” A press statement from chairman of New Chumukedima Village, S Bao Hama lamented that despite fervent appeals the department concerned has yet to send team for inspection of the deteriorating bridge, which serves as the lifeline of many villages. It noted that the New Chumukedima Village Council’s appeals to the Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Dimapur Division and Chief Engineer PWD (R&B) Kohima dated July 18 and August 21 respectively to inspect and renovate the bridge have failed to yield any positive response. “As such, as per its resolution dated November 30, the council is left with no other choice but to ban plying of heavy vehicles over the bridge considering the safety of the public and to prevent any mishap owing to collapse of the 34 year old fragile bridge,” the statement added. The council further cautioned that in the event of the bridge collapsing, the department will be held solely responsible.