A BRIDGE TOO FAR

ANOTHER STONE - The plaque that was unveiled by the state PWD minister Mr Kshiti Goswami at Sagardighi-ghat near Gosanimari in Dinhata on Sunday.  

Foundation of a dream-bridge to cross the election

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 23: Opposition parties reacted sharply over yesterday's foundation laying ceremony of the proposed road-bridge over Singimari river to connect Sitai with Dinhata.

State PWD minister Mr Kshiti Goswami laid the foundation of the proposed bridge near Gosanimari in Dinhata while four other ministers – Mr Ananta Roy, Mr Paresh Adhikary, Mr Srikumar Mukherjee and Mr Manohar Tirkey were present.

Sitai is separated from Dinhata by Singimari river. Capsizing of boats in this river is an annual feature during the monsoon. The proposed bridge is still a distant dream. For many years it acted as an election issue to the political parties but promises have been flown through its water. Officials said the estimated cost of the 900-metre long bridge is about Rs 65-crore. There will be about 4.5-kilometre approach road in total on both sides of the bridge. Almost all the political parties have been demanding construction of this bridge for years especially prior to any election.

Sitai MLA (Congress) Dr Fozle Haque termed the foundation as a political one. As the proposed bridge is yet to get final approval from the finance department it is nothing but a bid to cross the ensuing election, he observed. Appearance of five Left Front ministers on the day at the proposed site of the bridge is a political circus, he said.

General secretary of district Trinamul Congress Mr Partha Nath Sarkar too criticised the gorgeous foundation laying ceremony. "For many years the people have been demanding the bridge but no initiative was ever taken. Now, as the poll is on the corner the Left Front came out to lure people with the dream of the long-awaited bridge", he alleged. Mr Sarkar said, "Seeing is believing and so we like to wait at least up to commencement of the construction. There is an example in this district that a bridge took 55 years to get completed."

President of Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party Mr Ashutosh Barma said the foundation of the bridge is an act of cheating the common people. "We demanded several times during the past years but no steps was taken to construct it. If truly a bridge ever comes up it will be as a result of people's movement. Who came here yesterday to play a skit have nothing to ask from the people as it is a right of the people to get the proposed bridge", Mr Barma said.