ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 04 Jan: With the Rangchang bridge collapse of 19 December that claimed eight lives suspected to have been caused by overloading, the Transport Department has resolved to take “strict and stringent action” against any transporter ferrying more than 10 tonnes of load which incidentally the prescribed load limit allowed to ply on all Sikkim roads.
Speaking to NOW!, the Sikkim Nationalised Transport General Manager, ND Rai, informed that although investigation into the collapse was still underway, it is however being speculated that the entire “dead-load” of the trailer resting on the bridge must have led to its collapse. He informs that transporters are allowed to carry only 10 tonnes load since this is the capacity of the weight the roads in Sikkim can take. This specification, however, has obviously not been implemented efficiently thus far.
He further informs that ‘special permits’ are however issued to companies and private project developers allowing them to bring in ‘super heavy loads’ in the event that the load is so enormous that it cannot be dismantled and brought in different vehicles.
These loads [mostly heavy machinery], which, in the case of the Rangchang bridge collapse was a Teesta Urja transformer being brought in on a 48-wheel trailer, had to be brought in “one-piece’’ and hence given special permits only on ‘emergency basis’ with the joint consent and approval of GREF, the Roads & Bridges Department and the Motor Vehicles wing of the Transport Department as these are machines which are being used for development of the state.
“We allow these huge vehicles only occasionally since their loads cannot be reassembled at the project sites,” the GM informs. Meanwhile sources inform that such a special permit [required, as mentioned, from three agencies] was not acquired by Teesta Urja for the vehicle involved in the Rangchang Bridge collapse. It may be recalled that GREF, one of the agencies from which permission needs to be taken, was caught by surprise by the size of the trailer which went down with its bridge at Rangchang.
It is also informed that overloading goes largely unaddressed because of the permits which are issued outside the state and record the loads as 10 tonnes even when transporters are moving more. The 48-wheeler carrying the Teesta Urja consignment for instance weighed more than 60 tonnes including the body of the vehicle and had 12 axels as compared to 2 to 4 usually used on Sikkim roads.
An even bigger problem for the authorities here is the absence of weigh bridges at the two border check-posts which makes it impossible for authorities to check the weights being transported in. In this regard, the GM informed that ‘top-notch’ weigh bridges are in the process of being installed at Rangpo and Melli check-posts.
“We have already setup the required infrastructure for the weigh bridges through a private company at Rangpo, but this project has been delayed by the 11 September Earthquake. The machines for Melli check-post have also arrived but because of some technical hiccups, the work there is put on hold as a new structure has to be built from the river bed upto the road level to set up the weigh bridge which we assure will start operating very soon,” the GM explained.
The new high-tech weigh bridges to be set-up will have a carrying capacity of 50 metric tonnes and will be supervised by the Weight & Measures department during the installation process.
“After the weigh bridges are installed, the transporters will not be able to fool personnel at the check posts with forged documents. They will have to procure new weigh bills to enter Sikkim and anyone found carrying more than 10 tonnes will not be allowed through. This will be implemented very strictly and stringently,” assures the SNT, GM.
It was also learnt that there have been instances when loads meant for four trucks [because of the stipulated load limit for Sikkim roads], have been bundled into two trucks in pursuit of higher profits. This has also resulted in the poor state of roads here. Now, the state motor vehicle department and its inspectors have been fully empowered to check this illegal entry.
GREF warns against allowing trucks to park on Rangpo bridge
In another development, the Chief Engineer, Swastik GREF, has written to the DGP, Sikkim Police requesting that no trucks be allowed to halt on the Rangpo Bridge. A parked vehicle’s ‘dead weight’ carries amplified risks and is believed to have contributed to the Rangchang bridge collapse last month. With this engineering fact reiterated by the Rangchang experience, GREF has finally addressed what has been a common phenomenon for a while now – a row of trucks and other vehicles parked on the Rangpo Bridge awaiting entry into Sikkim.
The GREF Chief Engineer has reportedly detailed that this bridge was a ‘Class 70’ bridge with a capacity to carry only 110 tonnes and is old. The bee-line of trucks parked along the bridge could also lead to a similar collapse the letter adds.
