Assam: Villagers unite to construct makeshift bamboo bridge over Singra river in Boko

Villagers along the Assam-Meghalaya border have come together to build a makeshift bamboo bridge over the Singra River in Hahim, located in the Boko Legislative Assembly Constituency of Kamrup District. This effort comes in response to the ongoing challenges faced by residents due to the lack of a reliable crossing over the river, a situation that has been exacerbated during the rainy season.

Local resident Prasanta Rabha from Hahim reported that the construction of the bridge, which was completed in just five days, involved significant contributions from villagers in Jugdoba, Golapara, and Tilapara. The bridge, situated in the 2 no. Samuka Revenue village, was officially opened on Tuesday, providing vital access for students, farmers, and villagers to reach markets, schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities.

Kishore Rabha from Tilapara village voiced the frustrations of the community, emphasizing the dire conditions they have endured due to the absence of a stable bridge. “We have to travel to Hahim or Boko for medical emergencies and daily needs. Crossing the river is nearly impossible during the rainy season,” he lamented. He added that the new bridge would relieve the commuting woes for residents from ten villages, enabling over 300 students to attend school without the burden of lengthy detours.

The construction of the bridge was a grassroots initiative, with villagers donating over 500 bamboo poles and contributing their labor. Notably, a wooden bridge once existed in the area before the catastrophic floods of 2014 destroyed it, further underscoring the community’s ongoing struggle with infrastructure inadequacies.

Bishawy Rabha, also from Tilapara, highlighted the practical benefits of the bridge, noting it shortens the distance to Hahim by approximately five kilometers, thereby reducing transportation costs and time. Despite the progress made, sentiments of disappointment linger among residents regarding government inaction. Many expressed their discontent with the lack of concrete development, criticizing both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma for their failure to address the community’s needs effectively.

“This is the pathetic condition in the district where the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma votes himself in every election,” remarked Kishore Rabha, pointing out the irony of government advertisements promoting development initiatives like Digital India and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, while local communities struggle with basic infrastructure.