TINSUKIA: How far the Tinsukia district administration is proactive towards solving perennial public issues can be judged over the dilapidated condition of a wooden bridge over Saikhowa Nala (Bandar Khal) on the extreme end of NH 37 under Saikhowa Development Block in Tinsukia district under Sadiya LAC. The bridge is perhaps the only wooden bridge on NH that remained to be converted to RCC.
The wooden bridge connects Dholla Bazar embankment on the Southern side and famous Sri Sri Kecha Kaiti Shal on the Northern side along with 6-7 villages. The condition of the bridge is very precarious, highly prone to accident as some of the wooden planks got decayed even the bridge swings during the movement of two wheelers with virtually no protection on either side. It has become almost impossible for pregnant women and ailing patients to cross over the bridge.
According to local people, the Government did sanction an RCC bridge couple of years back but due to alleged conspiracy of contractor, local political leaders and departmental staff, the project was abandoned after the local people objected to the length of the bridge which was shorter than width of the river. It, however, could not be ascertained whether the scheme was approved then under CM’s package to convert 1100 wooden bridge to RCC with an investment of Rs 400 crores in 2022. The locals now desire intervention of Sadiya MLA and Tinsukia District Commissioner in reviving the RCC construction in order to give relief to immense suffering of devotees, school children, elderly and sick people.
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