Shillong, Nov 4: The Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) has alleged plying of overloaded trucks through Umpung bridge in Mawsynram region in East Khasi Hills and demanded for installation of a weighbridge to check the illegal overloading.
The bridge, capacity of which is 9 tonne, is facing damage due to the overloaded trucks, said the HNYF Southern Border Area unit in a letter submitted to deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills on Tuesday.
It said the overloaded trucks pay no heed to a signboard, installed by Mawsynram Division PWD (Roads), indicating the bridge’s capacity.
But overloaded trucks continue to ply, reducing the bridge’s lifespan, said K Thongni, president of the HNYF unit while warning of “severe consequences” if no action is taken against overloaded trucks.
The 60-year-old bridge, built during the Assam government era, is now showing signs of deterioration, Thongni stated in the letter.
Damage to the bridge would affect not only East Khasi Hills but South West Khasi Hills as well, impacting livelihoods of the border residents, he said.
The narrow and poorly maintained Ranikor-Umpung-Balat-Mawshynram road is prone to accidents, especially with small vehicles.
