Shillong, August 20: The Military authorities have blocked the old, British era pedestrian bridge over Wah Umkhen River near Assam Regimental Centre, which falls in A-1 Defence Land. This area has Army’s Rifle Range and learners driving track complex for the newly trained driver’s hugging the bank of the river, demanding restricted access and movement in the area.
The pedestrian bridge is over 150 years which has developed cracks and support structure is broken. Army also sensitized locals on the damaged and unsafe British era foot bridge to avoid any accidental mishap due to inadvertent crossing by civilians.
It is clarified that this has been done purely with the intent of keeping the safety of people in mind and not for any kind of discomfort or harassment as reported.There is a new concrete bridge presently under construction for military traffic only and not opened for military traffic as yet, due to incomplete work of retention walls of the bridge.
The existing PWD causeway to cross the river is routinely and extensively used both by army and civilians and is safe with no history of any mishap in last few years. It is only during heavy rains that the causeway has 4 to 5 inches of water and army has been assisting the public to ensure safe passage. Army has even gone ahead with cleaning this causeway as part of ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyhan’ recently.
