Gopabandhunagar: River Gangahar has been a commuting hurdle for thousands of people living in Gopabandhunagar and Badasahi blocks in Mayurbhanj district.
Locals alleged that as the government has not taken any step for a permanent bridge across the river, they are compelled to use a rickety bamboo bridge on a daily basis at Suhagpur ghat in Badasahi block.
What is most surprising is that people using the bamboo bridge have to pay anything between Rs 5 and Rs 10 per person.
Gangahar flows on the fringes of Gopabandhunagar and Badasahi blocks. Thousands of people of both blocks have been facing a lot of difficulties crossing the river at Ranibandh and Suhagpur ghats – both connected by the bamboo bridge.
The authorities of both blocks take turns every year in putting the ghat under auction and the leaseholder collects user fee from people who use the bridge.
For the year 2017-18, Badasahi block has given the lease to Gagan Biswal of Ranibhandh. Biswal has set up a bamboo bridge and has been collecting the user fee.
Ananta Behera, a local, alleged that the panchayats rake in the moolah from the bamboo bridge, but the administration has not even thought of building a permanent bridge. People are upset for being made to pay for using the rickety bridge.
He said if a bridge is set up, people of 20 villages on both sides of the river will get benefitted.
Shankar Majhi of Suhagpur says, “Over 300 motorcycles and 500 people cross the bridge daily. No one is sure when mishap will happen.”
Nimai Murmu, former sarpanch of Ranibandh, said the panchayat had given a proposal to the government for a bridge project in 2005, but no step has been taken as yet.
Kailash Singh, former sarpanch of Suhagpur, said people of three blocks depend on this bridge. The bridge will also reduce the distance between Badashai and Khunta by 5 km.
Gopabandhunagar BDO Basant Kumar Prusty said a proposal for Biju Setu has been sent to the government and it will take time. PNN
