Shillong, Mar 31: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD on Thursday inaugurated the two-lane Umpling Bridge in the Shillong suburb of Umpling. The bridge is hoped to ease the traffic congestion in the city as it connects to the new Shillong Township through the city outskirts.

The bridge took three years to complete and cost Rs 5 crore. The bridge spans 24.75 metre and work was carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) under CRF for the year 2018-19.

The bridge had to be closed in 2019 for reconstruction work as the earlier bridge, being a single lane bridge on River Demthring, Rynjah-Umpling Road, was deemed weak, especially with the quantum of traffic increasing.

The reconstruction work was expected to complete within 18 months time but Covid-19 pandemic delayed the work, however, Dy CM said there was on cost overrun despite the delay.