Shillong, Feb 24: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Thursday informed the Meghalaya High Court that the construction of a new bridge at Dwarksuid will start very soon.

Responding to a PIL by the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association, NHAI said the contract for the construction of a new bridge is about to be awarded as the tender process has been completed.

“…and the contractor will be afforded a year’s time to complete the construction of the new RCC bridge spanning 270 metre,” it said.

However, it was submitted on behalf of the petitioner that even though it is absolutely necessary to have a Bailey bridge in place as a temporary measure so that the heavier trucks do not have to pass through Shillong, no Bailey bridge or temporary arrangement has yet been put in place.

To this, the NHAI responded that a Bailey bridge is in place alongside the old, broken bridge and toll is collected by the NHAI from vehicles using such Bailey bridge.

In its order, the Meghalaya High Court Division Bench said there is no doubt that the report sought from the State will touch upon this aspect of the matter.

“However, since a categorical statement has been made on behalf of NHAI that the Bailey bridge is in place and is operational and the same is being used by vehicles, including trucks that would otherwise have used the broken bridge, leave is given to the petitioner to apply even before the adjourned date, if inquiries reveal otherwise,” it said.

The bench also directed that in the event it is discovered that such Bailey bridge is not in place or that vehicular movement is severely restricted or not possible along the relevant stretch, officials of all three bodies should meet and a common affidavit should be filed through the state indicating the progress and timeline for the temporary arrangement when the matter appears four weeks hence.

The next hearing on the matter has been scheduled be on March 25.