Bridge over River Subansiri at Ghunasuti no longer a distant dream

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The bridge over River Subansiri at Ghagar Ghat is no longer a distant dream for the deprived people living in the greater Ghunasuti area of the Lakhimpur district. The Government of Assam has approved the construction of a 2.4-km bridge over the river for Rs 383.67 crore at Ghunasuti in order to connect Lakhimpur town with Bebejia under Dhakuakhana subdivision.

The decision was taken at the State Government's 50th cabinet meeting which was held in Tezpur on Saturday. The State Government in a statement stated that the bridge would benefit the people of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli by shortening the distance between Lakhimpur and Dhakuakhana by about 20 km.

Several reports on the eluded activities of development, underdeveloped conditions, flood and erosion problem, poor road connectivity affecting the greater Ghunasuti area for years were published in several issues of The Sentinel in the past. Those reports published in the newspaper highlighted the massive erosion problem caused by the River Subansiri and the poor academic infrastructure and the dilapidated road communication system of Ghunasuti even during the long 75 years of the post-Independence period of the nation. Those reports also explained how the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra had separated Ghunasuti from the mainlands of the district, though the area is only seven kilometres away from the Lakhimpur district headquarter. The poor road connectivity is the root cause of the underdeveloped condition of the area

The construction of the bridge will solve the problems faced by the inhabitants of Ghunasuti in their day-to-day life while crossing the river by lessee-operated boats to communicate with the district headquarters. They have been allegedly betrayed and exploited by the lessees year after year by imposing a high amount of ferry charges by a section of dishonest employees. The people of the area face problems while shifting patients for advanced treatment in North Lakhimpur during the night as the ferry service remains closed. During the rainy season, they have to still cross the river despite the threat caused by the overflowing water of the Subansiri, which will be radicated by the bridge. Moreover, the bridge will reduce the 85- km long distance between North Lakhimpur and Dhakuakhana, via Gogamukh by NH 15 and Gogamukh-Dhakuakhana State Highway, to only 35 kilometres. Similarly, the island district of Majuli will also be easily reachable with a passable, short distance. The developed road connectivity with the bridge will ensure the development of more than 30,000 people of Ghunasuti along with academic, medical and other infrastructures.

Under such circumstances, as an outcome of the consecutive demands raised by the people of the area, strong role of Lakhimpur media, serial agitation programmes initiated by various organizations of the district regarding the bridge, Lakhimpur MLA Manab Deka and the incumbent BJP-led State Government took effective steps to construct the same in order to rejuvenate the missing link of road connectivity through North Lakhimpur-Dhakuakhana connecting road via Ghunasuti. As a result, the proposal for constructing the bridge over the river Subansiri, the largest tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra, incorporated in the Assam State Budget- 2021-22, which was tabulated by Ajanta Neog. It will be the third bridge over the river after the RCC Bridge at Chaoldhowa along NH-15 and the RCC bridge proposed to be constructed at Dhunaguri under Bihpuriya Revenue Circle connecting Lakhimpur and Majuli districts. It is expected that the miserable plight and problems faced by the people of Ghunasuti and those who have to go to Ghunasuti from North Lakhimpur and Dhakuakhana subdivisions, will come to an end with the completion of the construction of the bridge at Ghagar Ghat.

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