Kshiti lays foundation of two bridges

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 6: State public works minister Mr Kshiti Goswami laid foundation of a new 130-metre long bridge over Sutunga river at Mathabhanga yesterday. Mr Goswami hoped that the bridge might be opened for use within two years. The new concrete bridge will replace the old and damaged wooden bridge. He said public works department felt it necessary to replace the old wooden bridges in Cooch Behar district made in the regime of Maharajas with concrete bridges because the population and flow of traffic movement have increased rapidly.

 

Chairman of Mathabhanga Municipality Mr Arun Chaudhury said about 2.5-lakh people of Mathabhanga town, Sitalkuchi block, Sitai block, Mathabhanga-I and Mathabhanga-II blocks will be benefited with the Sutunga bridge. Though there was a bridge over Sutunga river an additional one was necessary to meet the growing traffic movement, Mr Chaudhury said.

 

In the inaugural ceremony the PWD minister admitted the necessity of bridges over Singimari river at Adabari to connect Dinhata and Sitai and another over Teesta river to connect Mekhliganj and Haldibari. At the same time he said that it is not possible for the state government alone to construct these two bridges because a huge sum of money will be required to complete the job.

 

Though the estimated cost to construct the Sutunga bridge was not disclosed it was learnt that the height of the bridge is yet to be fixed. A few constructions including some residences will have to be removed prior to construct the bridge at the proposed site. The total project cost will be estimated after examining all aspects, PWD sources said.

 

Three ministers - Mr Ananta Roy, Mr Paresh Adhikary and Mr Manohar Tirkey, Cooch Behar MP (Lok Sabha) Mr Hiten Barman, Sitalkuchi MLA Mr Harish Barman and Mathabhanga Municipality chairman Mr Arun Chaudhury also spoke on the occasion.

 

The PWD minister also laid foundation of a road bridge over Kaljani river at Balarampur yesterday. The bridge will be able to connect Dinhata and Tufanganj sub-divisions through Chilakhana. []