Northeast Desk, 30th July: The Meghalaya government has greenlit the resumption of two-way traffic on the Umiam bridge, effective today, following the completion of extensive repairs.
Efforts by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to address structural issues with the bridge commenced last December. These repairs involved replacing bridge bearings, adjusting expansion joints, and incrementally raising the bridge structure by 5-10 mm to enhance its stability.
For the past eight months, traffic between Guwahati and Shillong was limited to one-way, resulting in significant traffic congestion on both sides. The recent decision marks a significant relief for commuters.
“After extensive discussions by the high-powered committee on the repair and reopening of the bridge, we have decided to allow two-way traffic from Tuesday morning, restricted to vehicles carrying loads under 4 metric tons,” stated Power Minister AT Mondal in a press release on Monday.
The committee’s deliberations included district authorities, consultants from IIT-Guwahati, and officials from the Public Works Department.
Mondal highlighted that the repairs included retrofitting the bridge and addressing issues above the spillway, with total expenditures amounting to Rs 19.9 crore. He assured that ongoing minor tasks, such as repairing cracks in the upstream phase of the bridge, will not disrupt vehicle movement.
This reopening is expected to alleviate the transportation issues that have plagued the region over the past several months, restoring normalcy to the crucial route connecting Guwahati and Shillong.
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