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People seen crossing the Dhansiri river near the old bridge using a temporary structure erected. The photo was provided by the East Dimapur Tribal Council. [/caption]
Dimapur, March 6 (EMN): Even as the government authorities have started reconstructing the British era old Dhansiri bridge, residents living on the other side of the bridge – officially known as East Dimapur – have presented their problem through a press release.
On Monday, the East Dimapur Tribal Council which represents 22 villages issued a statement appealing the authority concerned to make an arrangement by way of constructing a ‘temporary suspension bridge’ for the convenience of the public.
According to the statement, the people of east Dimapur – especially those without means of private transportation – have used the old Dhansiri bridge “for decades” since it has served as the “walkable” route to downtown Dimapur. Especially, for those who cannot afford even autorickshaw fares, it stated.
According to the council, “people could walk to town for shopping, for attending schools and colleges, to avail medical facilities and many other basic amenities but with the dismantling of the old bridge for construction of (a) new bridge, poor people are facing immense difficulty to go to places in Dimapur which remained at walkable distance.”
At present, the council informed, people were “putting their life at risk” by crossing river (Dhansiri) by using “a temporary structure erected beside the old bridge.” While maintaining that the use of temporary structure was “risky,” the council stated that it might stretch to 3-4 years.
“Therefore, the council has urged the concerned department (sic) to construct a temporary suspension bridge in the larger interest of the poorer section of the society,” it stated.
