HAILAKANDI, Nov 26 - The Commissioner of PWD, Rajesh Kemprai has urged the engineers of Hailakandi to finish the ongoing works of the district on a priority basis. He inspected the dilapidated Matijuri bridge over Katakhal river in the district recently and expressed serious concern over the condition of the bridge.
It may be mentioned here that the bridge was constructed over river Katakhal in Matijuribazaar, around 7 kilometres from Hailakandi town in 1967. The bridge was closed by the department in 2017 after several cracks appeared on it.
Closing down of this old bridge has affected lakhs of commuters on the road that leads to all major establishments, including Silchar Medical College and Hospital. A large population of Hailakandi district is dependent on the bridge to reach Assam University, National Institute of Technology and Silchar Polytechnic. The road connects Silchar with Hailakandi and people prefer it to the one via Dwarbond because of the scenic beauty on both sides of the road.
The PWD had restricted the entry of heavy vehicles to the bridge several times but it was flouted by drivers allegedly due to the negligence of the personnel on duty.
The bridge has importance considering the university-goers from Hailakandi who are now helpless. Ambulances and vehicles of security personnel are also unable to cross the bridge due to the threat of collapse.
Various organisations, including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), staged repeated demonstrations demanding repair of the bridge. Members of Janashakti Seva Samiti and Trishul Club have also demanded immediate repair but the authorities did not pay any heed to it.
The organisations have expressed serious concern and said that the bridge may collapse at any time if steps are not taken immediately.
The president of Hailakandi District Contractors� Association, Gautam Gupta informed that they have apprised the condition of Matijuri bridge to Commissioner Kemprai and demanded immediate starting of construction of a new bridge for the benefit of the large section of people of Hailakandi district.
Kemprai informed that a team of experts will inspect the bridge very shortly and on the basis of the report, the next course of action will be initiated.
Earlier, Kemprai was felicitated during his arrival in the district. He also attended the annual Jagadhatri Puja of Hailakandi PWD office.
