[ Bengia Ajum ]
ITANAGAR, 4 Jul: Work on the much-delayed railway bridge over the Pachin river to connect the railway station with Lekhi has resumed after a gap.
The project was approved in 2016 and the foundation work commenced in the same year. Later, due to various issues, the project could not be completed on time.
The Indian Railways, which is funding the project, reportedly detected a technical problem and urged the contractor to correct it before continuing the work. This further delayed the work. However, the issue has been resolved and now the work has started.
“The technical concern raised by the Railways has been corrected. The work is now going on smoothly. The railway authorities have assured that the project will be completed by 31 December,” informed Roger Nabam Hina, member of the divisional railway users’ consultative committee, Rangiya division.
Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) DC Talo Potom appealed to the people to cooperate in the construction of the railway bridge.
“I will not tolerate any obstruction and hindrances in the construction of this bridge. This bridge is very important for the construction of Package B four-lane highway. It will help to decongest NH 415 and thereby help the construction of a four-lane highway,” said Potom.
He added that the work is underway on a war footing.
Along with the Lekhi railway bridge, the people of the ICR are waiting for the completion of another bridge – an arch bridge over the Pachin river – which, once completed, will connect Borum with the Naharlagun helipad.
This 90-metre-long double-lane bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore. Its foundation stone was laid in 2016, but actual work started in May 2017. There is a proposal to construct an approach road to the helipad bridge from the Lekhi side.
Once completed, the railway and the helipad bridges will serve as alternatives routes, avoiding NH 415, for commuters travelling towards Lekhi, Nirjuli, and Banderdewa from here, besides to Rajiv Gandhi University, the railway station, and Yupia. It is expected to considerably ease the traffic congestion in Naharlagun.
