9 years on, no approach road for bridge

Bagaha: A bridge constructed in 2007 over a Gandak rivulet on the demand of villagers living at Rampurwa and Dhanahiya villages under Valmikinagar police station in West Champara district with funds provided by the Zonal Development Council (ZDC), Bagha, remains unutilized after nine years of its inception.
Constructed at an expenditure of Rs 17lakh, the bridge is left unused due to lack of approach road on both ends.
Sources said Dhanahiya, which is like an island, is surrounded by the rivulet from all sides and becomes inaccessible during monsoon when the water-level rises.
Bagha ZDC member Pramod Singh alias Tejpratap Singh said had the bridge been operational, forest land grabbers and woodcutters would not have encroached upon forest land and strict vigil on Nepal border could have been maintained by the Shasastra Seema Bal (SSB), which has its office near Rampurwa village.
"We have taken up the matter in several meetings of ZDC. For once the bridge is thrown open to public, all illegal activities in the area will be checked as SSB men will start moving freely. We hope the district administration and the state government will pay heed to our grievances and construct the approach roads on both sides soon," said Singh.