Students Risk Lives Daily: The Struggle for a Bridge in Semiliguda

Dangerous Commute for Students in Semiliguda

In the Semiliguda block, students from various villages under Charangul panchayat face perilous conditions as they navigate the Kolab reservoir in makeshift boats to attend school. Children from six villages, including Lenjiguda, Khalpadi, and Gaudaguda, must rely on these unsafe country boats to reach Jagannath Vidyapeeth and TRW High School. This hazardous daily journey has persisted for years, especially after the government-provided motorized boat became inoperable three years ago. The absence of an operator has compounded the issue, leaving students and local residents without a safe means of transport. The community depends on this boat for essential travel to hospitals, banks, and local offices, as the alternative road route adds nearly 15 kilometers to their journey, while crossing the reservoir shortens it to just one kilometer.

Villagers express frustration over the stalled construction of a bridge, which was approved by the previous government but has yet to materialize due to bureaucratic delays. Charangul panchayat sarpanch Phulmati Pujari confirmed that funding for the bridge has been allocated and that a survey by the Rural Development department has been completed. However, she remains unaware of the reasons behind the construction holdup. Additionally, she acknowledged the motor of the government boat is still non-functional and that the Block Development Officer has been notified.

Local MLA Ramachandra Kadam, upon being informed about the students' dangerous commute, stated that all necessary preparations for the bridge's construction are in place. He assured that tenders would be issued soon, with construction expected to commence by the end of the year.