Sai & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijayapuram, Sept. 19: For the people of Dasarathpur, Middle Andaman, the Steel Bridge at Magar Nallah has become a symbol of neglect. Despite repeated cries for help, the bridge remains in a dangerous, unusable condition, leaving villagers to suffer in silence.
From June 2019 to January 2025, the Dasarathpur Gram Panchayat has written multiple letters to the Executive Engineer, APWD, Rangat, demanding urgent repairs. Each time, the situation was spelled out clearly — rusted nuts and bolts, displaced base plates, loud noise when vehicles pass, and a bridge that shakes dangerously.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Pradhan of Dasarathpur Gram Panchayat, Ms. Rupa Rani Halder said that authorities were also reminded that the bridge has been lying unused since 2019, cutting off easy access and creating daily hardships for villagers. Yet, six long years have passed, and nothing concrete has been done.
For the locals, every monsoon and every journey is a reminder of official apathy. “How many more letters do we need to write? Do we wait for a tragedy before action is taken?” asked one frustrated villager.
This bridge is the only direct route for many villagers, and its closure has forced them to take alternate and much longer routes, leading to significant hardship, time wastage and frustration. And worst affected are the school going children who have to take a detour through Mithila to reach their school; in fact, the link between Dasarathpur and Sabari snapped the day the damaged bridge was closed.
People passing through the area see not only the rusting bridge but also the rusting promises of governance. The Panchayat has once again urged immediate repair, warning that the situation is not just about convenience anymore — it’s about safety, dignity, and accountability.
