Imphal: An unauthorised multi-crore steel bridge is nearing completion along the border connecting Manipur’s Churachandpur district with Mizoram and Myanmar.
The bridge, reportedly constructed without state government approval or environmental clearance, has raised security and regulatory concerns.
Officials reported that the unauthorised steel bridge, estimated to cost over Rs 5 crore, was constructed using prefabricated erection and incremental launching techniques.
Steel beams and trusses were manufactured off-site, transported through Mizoram and assembled using heavy cranes, high-strength bolts and rivets. The final deck installation is currently underway.
The absence of government oversight and the bridge’s proximity to sensitive areas have raised concerns among state officials and local groups.
There are apprehensions that the infrastructure could be linked to unauthorised cross-border activities.
The development comes after a similar incident in May 2024, when the Manipur government intercepted and halted the construction of an unauthorised RCC bridge across the Manipur River.
The project, located between K. Molnom in Chandel district and Thingngaiphai in Churachandpur district, was stopped over security concerns and the lack of environmental clearance.
The government’s intervention at the time led to a tense situation, with local women blocking security forces from reaching the site.
Expressing concern over the latest unauthorised bridge construction, former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh took to Facebook to draw the attention of the concerned state authorities.
The district administration and police are currently assessing the security implications and monitoring the site to address the unauthorised infrastructure development.