The Longsa Village Council has formally submitted a plea to the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, requesting immediate and strict monitoring of vehicular traffic crossing the Dikhu Bailey Bridge on National Highway-202 (Mokokchung-Tuensang Road).
The Council, in its letter, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the historic Dikhu Bridge, which was constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the 1960s. Originally designed to support a maximum load of eight tons, the bridge is reportedly in a dilapidated state and “has reached beyond human repairs,” according to the Council.
Terming the bridge as an economic lifeline that connects Mokokchung with the eastern districts of Nagaland, the Council warned that unregulated passage of heavily loaded vehicles may result in a catastrophic collapse, endangering the lives of commuters and disrupting inter-district connectivity.
In light of the urgent situation, the Longsa Village Council has requested the district administration to deploy police personnel to monitor and regulate vehicle weight limits on the bridge. The Council maintained that proactive measures are necessary to prevent any future mishaps and to avoid negligence on the part of responsible authorities.
The appeal was jointly signed by Mr Akangjungshi Tatar, Chairman, and Mr Repalepzuk, GB and Secretary of the Longsa Village Council.