The makeshift bamboo bridge that connects the Brahmabarada and Kakudikuda villages. Telegraph picture

Jajpur, Oct. 19: In a rare display of enterprise, villagers of eight villages of two gram panchayats in Jajpur district came together to build a 300 metre long makeshift bamboo bridge across the Brahmani river without any government help. The makeshift bridge serves as a connector between Brahmabarada and Kakudikuda villages.

Nearly 10,000 residents of the eight villages in two panchayats have to cross the river for their daily chores of lives. They had been knocking at the doors of the administration and running from the pillar to post for years. No help came from any quarter despite repeated pleas.

“Over hundreds of our college students had to walk 6km through farmland to reach the Brahmabarada College. Many people had to cross the river through neck deep water to reach the other side. The villagers are dependant on Brahmabarada market for their daily chores,” said Soubhagya Kumar Sahu of Kakudikuda village.

“This bamboo bridge will make it much easier for us to reach from Brahmabarada market to college. It will reduce around 5km of distance between the two places,” he said.

At a meeting, the villagers decided to construct the bridge across the river from their own funds and with their own participation. The villagers started collecting bamboos, cash and paddy from each houses. They reportedly collected about five hundred bamboos and Rs 20,000 in cash to build the bridge.

“We thought self help is the best help. We purchased other materials to construct the makeshift bridge over the river,” said Suryakanta Rout, another villager.

The entire construction process took 15 days. The villagers also had to build two approach roads on both sides of the bridge. As many as 600 villagers including children and youngsters participated in the community work.

“There was nothing at all. The villagers made a makeshift bridge across the river on which many people can walk at the same time,” says villager Priyanath Rout.

“If the work was given to a government-listed contractor, the makeshift bamboo bridge, the construction would have cost about Rs 3 lakh,” he added.

“It is an amazing display of unity. This has given us tremendous confidence. We can do a lot without the help of the government,” said Bikram Keshari Deo, another villager.