Renovation Silchar - Guwahati: Sonapur Bridge to allow movement of vehicles only 12 hours a day

The Meghalaya government has asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately start the repairing work on the Sonapur bridge, which had developed cracks earlier this month.

Deputy chief minister and minister incharge of PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong on Thursday said that an expert team that was sent to Sonapur has reported that immediate repairing is needed to fix the bridge.

The Sonapur bridge in East Jaintia Hills is lifeline for Assam, Tripura and Mizoram as it connects Meghalaya with Cachar district in Assam, from where routes to other states passes. 

The repair work of the Bridge is expected to be completed within 45 days, said the minister.

Earlier this month, a team of experts from NHAI had inspected the Sonapur bridge in East Jaintia Hills after it developed cracks.

The Dy CM said that for now, the district administration has restricted movements of commercial vehicles through the bridge. Tynsong also clarified that the question of construction of a new bridge will not arise.

East Jaintia hills district has issued a notice restricting movement over the bridge until the work concludes. Traffic movement will only be allowed for 12 hours a day. As per scheduled released, vehicular movement will only be allowed between 1pm to 4pm and 10pm to 7am everyday, until the work completes.