Arunachal Villagers build wire rope suspension bridge against road collapse

ITANAGAR: Only four days after the road portion of Pangin-Pasighat Highway near Rottung in Arunachal Pradesh  collapsed due to a landslide, villagers of Siang district built a wire rope suspension bridge along the highway.

The road portion of the highway had collapsed due to a landslide, causing immense duress to patients and peddlers.

The wire rope suspension bridge has been constructed by villagers of Pangin and Kebang circles, of Siang within four days without any help from the state government.

The wire rope suspension bridge was built using aged old traditional techniques and methods.

The bridge with a length of approximately 30 meters will ease the woes of the people of Siang, West Siang, Shi-Yomi, and Upper Siang districts until the highway is restored properly.

It will also shorten the travel time of the commuters.

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Since the road collapsed, locals were forced to climb the hilly track that takes them around 1 hour to reach the other side, said Lelek Bridge Construction Committee chairman Tagum Sitang.

According to Sitang, the authorities, including the district administration and the highway department, first opposed the construction of any structure at the block point, but the senior public, seeing the commuters' anguish, had no choice but to initiate and built the bridge.

Kaling Moyong, the state government's speaker appreciated their initiative and assured to take up the road blockade matter with the Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Ministry along with the legislators of the Siang belt.

He further urged the public not to claim any compensation in case a decision for new road construction is taken.

It has been reported that the district has been reeling under serious trouble due to a road blockade at Sanggam and Lelek point.

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