Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma on February 22 laid the foundation for the construction of a bridge over river Damring at Resubelpara in North Garo Hills district.
With a total length of 1799.469 meters – bridge and approach road included – at a cost of Rs 23.59 crore, funded under RIDF of the World Bank, the bridge will connect two crucial roads – Songsak-Mendipathar and the Rongrong-Resudekachang which are separated by the river.
“The roads connect many villages in the area – Thapa Darenchi, Thapa Agitchak, Dabadnaggre, Thapa Rongdenggre, Chidaret Ajaro, Moranodi, Doba Apal, Konchigol, Damebibra, Darampara, Daram Mangtu etc. Due to the absence of a bridge over the river, the villagers were forced to cross the river through bamboo footbridges, which are often washed away during the monsoons,” an official said.
“The construction of this bridge will reduce the detouring for traffic between Songsak-Mendipathar and Rongrong- Resudekachang by about 19 km,” the official added.
Calling it a ‘boon for the people’, the Meghalaya chief minister said: “The completion of the bridge will benefit the population of 4,000, mostly comprising villagers who require the bridge for transportation of daily needs and many agricultural and horticultural products and will limit the travel time and ease the commute of villagers who use bamboo footbridges to cross to the opposite side.”
The area is rich in agricultural products, forest products and minerals and speaking about the added benefits, the Meghalaya CM said: “The completion of this project will greatly uplift the local economy of the and improve the lives of people living in this area, thereby also supplementing the economy of the state in the form of royalty, taxes.”
Meghalaya assembly deputy speaker thanked Sangma for his concerted approach to accelerate development in the district. He expressed his satisfaction with the sanction of the long-awaited Thapa Bridge in Resubelpara, which will resolve the problems of many villages in the area.
