An INR 60 lakh budget has been sanctioned for constructing a permanent bridge in Murbad's Fangulgavhan village after a Hindustan Times report highlighted the issue. The bridge will provide a lasting solution for the affected tribal community, who face severe transportation challenges during the monsoon due to a swollen stream. The district collector, Ashok Shingare, swiftly secured technical and administrative approvals, and construction is about to begin very soon. The decision follows the villagers' 15-year struggle for the bridge, recently intensified by a near-tragic incident involving a student. The project is prioritized before the upcoming assembly elections' code of conduct.
Less than a week after Hindustan Times reported on the residents of Fangulgavhan gram panchayat in Murbad taluka constructing a makeshift bridge over a swollen stream, the Thane district planning committee approved a budget of INR 60 lakh for a permanent bridge at the location. Prompted by the report, district collector Ashok Shingare, in consultation with guardian minister Shambhuraj Desai and other elected representatives, moved quickly to address the issue. Within three days, Shingare secured the necessary technical and administrative approvals and obtained a budget of INR 60 lakh for the construction of the bridge, as confirmed by the district public relations officer.
The district planning committee's approval, granted on August 8, ensures a lasting solution to the significant challenges faced by the tribal community, especially during the monsoon season. Every year, the monsoon rains swell the stream, making it extremely dangerous for students and commuters who must cross it. The absence of a reliable bridge has been a long-standing problem for the residents, and their pleas for a solution had gone unheard for 15 years.
Fangulgavhan panchayat comprises three revenue villages and four tribal hamlets, home to approximately 2,500 people. The Moroshi Ashram School, which serves as a crucial educational institution for many tribal students, is located in the panchayat. Students from the hamlets of Fangulgavhan, Sakharwadi, and Nirgudpada, situated about five kilometers from the school, rely on a rough trail that crosses the stream to reach their classrooms. During the monsoon, the stream becomes flooded, creating hazardous conditions that have, in the past, led to near-tragic incidents.
In the first week of August, after heavy rains caused the stream to swell, a student was swept away before being rescued by locals. This incident spurred the villagers to take matters into their own hands, leading them to construct a temporary bridge using pooled resources and labor. The Hindustan Times report on this grassroots effort caught the attention of the district authorities, leading to a swift response. With the collector urging officials to complete all necessary procedures before the assembly polls' code of conduct takes effect, construction of the permanent bridge is expected to begin soon. Once completed, the bridge will permanently resolve the long-standing transportation challenges faced by the tribal community in Fangulgavhan.
The construction of a permanent bridge in Fangulgavhan village, Murbad, is a welcome development that will provide a lasting solution to the transportation challenges faced by the local tribal community, especially during the monsoon season. The swift action taken by the district authorities, including the collector, in securing the necessary approvals and budget, is commendable and demonstrates a responsive approach to addressing the long-standing issue. The project's prioritization before the upcoming assembly elections' code of conduct further underscores the urgency and importance of this infrastructure development for the well-being of the affected residents.
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
