Jowai-Badarpur highway to remain “completely closed” between March 2 and 4, only LMV from Feb 19

Starting February 19, the Jowai-Badarpur National Highway Number 44 will be blocked for movement of any heavy vehicles for four days. The East Jaintia Hills District’s Deputy Commissioner in an electronic communication has informed the Deputy Commissioner Hailakandi about this restriction in traffic movement. As the Sonapur Bridge above Lubha river is undergoing “rehabilitation and upgradation” works, this step was taken by the Meghalaya administration.

Even after trials of rehabilitation and restoration work of the bridge, the work couldn’t be completed as per estimated track. The plying of traffic on that road has hampered the already progressing rectification works. Additional cracks have been developed and appeared again. From February 19 to February 22, only lower motor vehicles will be allowed to ply over the bridge during the period of repair, said an order passed by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills District. The order further said, from March 2 to March 4, there shall be “complete closure of all types of vehicles for doing load testing on the bridge”.

Section 34 (b) (m) of the Disaster Management Act will be imposed in that area from Saturday, to prevent any disaster and ensure safety of commuters, informed the District Magistrate. Traffic movements will be restored on February 23, after four days. This bridge has become extremely weak and if repair works are not done, any mishap can happen anytime. This step was taken to speed up the repair works of that bridge which is being done by the National Highways Authority of India.