Itanagar: Amid nationwide coronavirus lockdown, the Border Road Organisation (BRO) has constructed a strategic Daporijo bridge over the Subansiri River in record time at Daporijo town in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday inaugurated the revamped bridge through video conferencing.
The bridge has been named after martyr Hangpan Dada, who laid down his life fighting terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir and was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra.
The said bridge was in a dilapidated condition and movement of vehicles over it was restricted owing to huge risk of it collapsing anytime.
The bridge is a strategic link towards the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.
All supplies, rations, constructional material and medicines pass over this bridge. Old Bridge developed cracks which could lead to a major catastrophe like on July 26 1992 when a passenger bus fell off the bridge leaving no survivors.
With the intervention of Director General Border Road and CE Arunank expeditious sanctions were obtained from the Ministry of Defence and Arunachal Government.
This bridge is the only line of communication to Daporijo and other villages located on the other side of Subansiri River. It also connects the Siang belt with Upper Subansiri.
Lauding the BRO, Mr Khandu said despite various problems faced due to national ‘lockdown’ owing to COVID 19 outbreak, the premier construction organisation took up the construction work at war footing and within a short period of around one month, completed project.
He also commended the district administration for extending excellent co-operation to the BRO in completion of the bridge.
"Now that this strategic 430 feet multi span bridge is completed, hassle free communication is restored to Daporijo and around 451 villages as well as all the forward locations along LAC where our security forces are deployed,” Khandu said.
The CM expressed special gratitude to the Director General, Project ARUNANK Chief Engineer Brig A S Chonker, Commander 23 BRTF Col Satyan Sundaran and OC 77 RCC PN Sahu for their prompt and personal interest in carrying out the construction work.
He also appreciated the decision taken by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar and Upper Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Kanto Danggen to allow BRO to carry out the construction work amid the lockdown.
