WILLIAMNAGAR, APR 4: It was a moment of joy and celebration as the 34-year-old bridge was on Monday inaugurated by Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma in presence of social welfare minister Deborah Marak, PWD minister S. Dhar at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills.
The bridge connects Williamnagar to about 52 neighbouring villages on the northern bank of Simsang River, the longest in Garo hills and connects the town to Chokpot in South Garo Hills. Chokpot is about 45 km from Williamnagar.
After inaugurating the bridge, Mukul laid the foundation stone for construction of the road upto Chokpot.
The 203 meters length RCC bridge, built at an estimated cost of about 12 crore is dubbed by the state PWD as one of the longest bridge constructed post creation of the state, carved out of Assam in 1971.
In 1986, when construction began, the budget was 1.65 crore, which had to be revised, as the bridge, while being constructed had collapsed several times. Over the years, the contractors, who were assigned the work refused to further go ahead. The PWD and its team of officials handled the final construction of the bridge.
The bridge had become an eyesore for the people of this town, who had time and again raised the issue for its completion. In absence of the bridge, development works on the other side was immensely hampered, as navigation to the other side of the river was a difficult task.
In 2013 assembly election, Congress candidate Deborah Marak, presently minister for social welfare, veterinary and animal husbandry took up the challenge to promise to the people that the bridge would be completed.
“It was one of my main election agenda, as the bridge had become an eyesore. I was a student, when the foundation of the bridge was laid. The construction could not be completed for one or the other reason and challenges”, she said.
Marak appreciating the PWD and its officials, who had tirelessly worked to fructify the project, said, “The bridge will usher in an era of growth and end the hardship of people, who are blessed with rich agricultural produce”.
Speaking on the occasion, an elated chief minister said, “It is a moment of celebration. The construction of the bridge was delayed for several challenges. We had to revise the estimates and gear up the PWD to ensure that the bridge was completed”.
He hoped that construction of the bridge will accelerate development as the government is committed to ensure that people benefit from different programmes of the government.- From Our Correspondent
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