40 UP villages pool funds to build own bridge

Bareilly: Tired of endless waiting for govt action, residents of nearly 40 villages in Moradabad’s Kundarki assembly constituency are pooling resources to construct a 50 m bridge over Bahalla river. Villagers claim the initiative comes after district officials cited budget constraints for a project earlier estimated at ₹9 crore. In contrast, locals said they are constructing a sturdy structure for just ₹25 lakh.Construction is underway, with over ₹12 lakh spent so far. Once completed, the bridge will improve connectivity and cut the travel distance to Rampur from 25 km to just 7 km.For years, the community—situated on Moradabad-Rampur border—has relied on a hazardous, makeshift wooden bridge. Locals claimed crossing the river here has led to multiple tragic fatalities over the years, including the drowning of a local panchayat member four years ago. Repeated appeals to the district administration and elected representatives for a permanent structure yielded no results, claimed locals.District officials, however, raised objections to the unsanctioned construction, citing safety and procedural concerns. Moradabad district magistrate Rajendra Pensia clarified that infrastructure projects require strict govt oversight and approval. “We don’t get a budget until the govt approves it. We perform an initial survey, draft a detailed project report, and once approved by the govt, construction begins. We will not allow anyone to erect the bridge because it poses a serious threat to their lives,” Pensia told TOI.“These villagers want a bridge every 2 km, which is not feasible. There is already a bridge 16 km away,” Pensia added.Despite the official pushback, villagers are confident in the integrity of their work. Rashid Ali, a daily wager leading the construction efforts, vouched for the structure’s durability. “We have erected nine pillars, and it is very strong—even a JCB couldn’t move it easily. We plan to complete the lintel work after this year’s monsoon,” Rashid said.“Around four years ago, one of our panchayat members drowned, and others have died before that. Close to 40 villages have contributed so far. We had appealed to the administration multiple times—especially for schoolchildren and emergency medical access to Rampur—but no action was taken. We still have faith in the govt, but if they won’t build it, we will,” said Farukh Ali, pradhan of Bhaypur village.Efforts to reach local BJP MLA Ramveer Singh for his comment were unsuccessful.Stay updated with the latest Bareilly news. Download the TOI App.