Shillong, Feb 3: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong on Thursday informed that repairing of the Sonapur Bridge over Lukha River in East Jaintia Hills District will be completed within 45 days.

This was based on the recommendation of the expert team from Delhi after conducting an inspection to bridge after it developed some cracks.

“The finding (of the expert team) is immediate repairing has to take place. The project director of National Highway Authority of India is on the job to start repairing of this bridge,” Tynsong told reporters.

He said the NHAI project director has assured that the repairs will be done within 45 days.

He also informed that the district administration has restricted movement of commercial vehicles through the bridge.

On questions of construction of a new bridge, Tynsong said that cannot be done.

He added that the bridge, which is around 100 meters, was constructed by the BRO and is the only lifeline which connects Meghalaya with the rest of the other North-Eastern states.

Regarding the Umiam Bridge, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “Experts had already done the exercise of plus and minus and all detail structure so that’s why the restriction of weight is already in place (for) those who goes and comes via this bridge at Barapani.”

Jingkieng Kalong to Umiam road

On the proposal of the government to construct a road from Jingkieng Kalong to Umiam, he said there are lot of formalities to be done in this regard. “In fact I have already asked my team of engineers to work out if there is any other option where we can bypass the existing main dam bridge,” he informed.

Stating that the government’s focus is on the Shillong Western bypass, Tynsong said, “If Western bypass is constructed I think quite a number of commercial vehicles will not ply via the Umiam bridge.”

He said the project is still in the state of land acquisition. “We have already asked both the district collectors of East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi to start the proceedings of land acquisition,” he added.

Status of Dwarksuid Bridge

On the status of the Dwarksuid Bridge, he said that the work order will be issued very soon from the ministry.

“Once that is done, they will start the work. Hardly they will take one year to complete the reconstruction of the entire stretch of the bridge,” he said.