Koraput: Villagers of Bara in Malkangiri district have built a wooden bridge over a nullah on their own after their repeated pleas to the government for a bridge fell on deaf ears.

"It was very difficult and risky for us to cross the river especially during monsoon in the absence of a bridge. Taking a patient to hospital or sending kids to schools was a nightmare. We had requested the government for a bridge over the nullah for so many times, but no one took up our cause. So, we decided to construct it on our own," said villager Rabi Hantal.

The villagers built the 200-metre-long bridge using bamboos and wood planks in four days. They claimed that the bridge was so strong that not only two-wheelers, but even four-wheelers, would easily pass through the structure.

"We drove a tractor through the bridge to test its strength and the vehicle passed off smoothly without any problem. We hope that ambulances will reach our village now," said Makrand Hantal, another villager.

A government official, on the other hand, said that they could not take up construction of the bridge in the area as Maoists, who had a strong base in the region, oppose construction of roads and bridges.

"We have already submitted a proposal to construct a bridge there to higher authorities for approval. Once we get approval, we may be able to take up the project next year," said a senior official of the panchayati raj department.