Incomplete road-bridge may turn a factor in rural poll

 

COOCH BEHAR, April 15: An incomplete road-bridge may turn as a factor in the upcoming panchayat elections in Mekhliganj block of Cooch Behar. Trinamul Congress and Congress already made it a point to campaign against the ruling party.

 

The construction of the road-bridge over Saniajan river in Mekhliganj of Cooch Behar is under construction. The work for it had began in 2003. The site of the proposed road bridge is at the entrance of Mekhliganj town from Changrabandha.

 

It was learnt that construction of the road-bridge was started with financial assistance extended from Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) in 2003. The work was scheduled to complete within two years. Since then five years have been passed off but the construction is yet to be completed.

 

Finding no other alternative the locals are using the old and weak bridge to cross the river risking their lives daily. This bridge was constructed during the regime of Maharajas. It was never repaired in the recent past, locals alleged. It is feared that this bridge may collapse any day.

 

District Trinamul Congress vice-president Mr Niranjan Dutta said the locals have to go to Mekhliganj town, Dhapra and Kuchlibari by crossing the Saniajan river. As the area is close to the Indo-Bangladesh border there are several BSF border outposts and two police outposts. The bridge is very essential for maintaining the road communication in the area. Lack of a concrete bridge it is hard to run ambulances and fire service vehicles in case of urgency. The small traders are also regular sufferers, Mr Dutta alleged. "We are going to highlight the issue during poll campaign as it is nothing but an example of callousness of the ruling party", he added.

 

As the bridge turned weak and tottering and unusable for heavy traffic the authorities concerned had prohibited plying of lorries and vehicles carrying more than 10-ton of goods over this bridge. But there are few takers to obey that order. As a result the condition of this old bridge is getting worse. The initiative to construct a new concrete bridge was taken to replace the old bridge but no one is visibly serious about its completion, locals alleged. They believe it is now an election issue only. []