FAR AWAY BRIDGE

Bridge over Kaljani river

The Kaljani Nadi Setu Sangram Samity organised a seminar at Deocharai CADC Maidan in Tufanganj on Sunday afternoon to thank the state government for calling a tender to construct the much awaited bridge over Kaljani river that is to connect Deocharai with Balarampur. The estimated cost to erect the bridge is Rs 33,32,13,000.00. State Public Works Department minister Mr Kshiti Goswami had laid the foundation of the bridge on 5 August 2007.

Secretary of the Kaljani Setu Sangram Samity and also an MLA from Natabari Assembly constituency, Mr Tamser Ali said the state government called the tender on 16 December 2009. The proposed bridge is expected to come up within three years, he hoped. The tenders will be opened on 16 February 2010. The total estimated cost of the bridge including approach roads is about Rs 50-crore, he said. More than five-lakh people of Balarampur, Deocharai, Nakkatigachh, Dewanhat, Jiranpur, Panisala, Burirhat, Putimari, Nazirhat and Salmara are to be benefited by the proposed bridge, he claimed. He also claimed that the bridge is going to be translated into reality following a longstanding struggle of the local people.

State Forest minister Mr Ananta Roy, Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Mr Dilip Biswas, Cooch Behar MP (Lok Sabha) Mr Nripendra Nath Roy and Cooch Behar District Left Front convener Mr Chandi Pal too spoke on the occasion.