BRO bridges lifeline of Upper Subansiri

ITANAGAR, Jun 13: Living up to its tag of ‘Good Samaritan’, the BRO personnel deployed in Upper Subansiri district opened the multiple-span Bailey bridge over river Subansiri at Daporijo in a record two days.

The existing 25-year-old bridge was extensively damaged due to the movement of heavily loaded vehicles carrying construction material belonging to private contractors. This bridge is the only link to the district from neighbouring West Siang district, and is thus the lifeline for the remote Upper Subansiri.

The bridge was handed over to state PWD as part of the Trans Arunachal Highway (TAH) by BRO in 2014.  But PWD was not maintaining as progress of TAH had stopped.

Seized of the gravity of the situation, Daporijo Deputy Commissioner AK Singh requisitioned the services of the BRO despite the bridge being under PWD. Keeping the issue of ownership of the project aside, a team of 77 RCC/23 BRTF headed by Chief Engineer of Project Arunank went about restoration of the critical link.

Despite inclement weather, the BRO team stripped open the damaged portion of the bridge, removed and replaced damaged components, and restored the bridge for civilian traffic in two days on Monday.