Shillong: The most-awaited Umpling bridge in Shillong was finally opened for the public on Thursday after a wait of three long years.
The two-lane bridge was inaugurated by Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong, who is also the PWD minister, and was accompanied by local MLA Pyniaid Syiem.
The bridge was closed since 2019 for reconstruction work of the weak single-lane bridge on river Demthring, Rynjah Umpling Road. The bridge has a span of 24.75 metre and work was carried out by the Public Works Department under CRF for the year 2018-19.
The reconstruction work was expected to be completed in 18 months but owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the construction work was delayed. The PWD minister said the total project cost was Rs 5 crore and there was no extra cost due to the delay. He also stated that with the opening of this bridge, traffic congestion will ease up since this bridge was like a corridor connecting to New Shillong Township.
“The aspirations of the people living in this area have been met today with the inauguration and I’m sure that it will ease the hardship of the people,” said Tynsong
A resident of Umpling Eugene Kharbuli expressed happiness after waiting for three years. He said local residents had to take the longer route to go to the market which was time consuming.
Patricia Mukhim, a resident of Umpling and renowned Journalist, said it (the bridge) was much needed and they’re finally happy because it will bring down their fuel cost as they were forced to take a longer route earlier.
“This road links to new institutions in New Shillong. To demolish something is very easy but to build it is a task…this road is less than a kilometre long; it shouldn’t have taken so long. There is that political will that is needed and we have an MLA who belongs to the ruling party, so it makes a difference,” said Mukhim.
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