Rs 4.26 cr bridge unused for 12 yrs

The Hedode village bridge is lying unused for the past 12 years. The bridge, inaugurated in 2006 by the then Chief Minister Pratapsingh Raoji Rane, was constructed by GSIDC at the cost of Rs4.26 crore.

It was built to reduce the distance from Hedode to Valpoi by three kms. However, the road connecting the main road to the bridge is not constructed because it comes under the Forest Department. The locals are now demanding a NOC from the government to construct this 200-metre stretch passing through the Forest Department land.

Beside this, the street lights on the bridge are not working since 2006. New street lights were installed in 2016. The GSIDC has even installed new electric poles with LED lights costing Rs 35 lakh, but even theses LED lights are also not functioning, say villagers.

For the past one decade, villagers from Hedode village have written many letters to the Forest Department, GSIDC, and Electricity Dept and have even raised the issue of the linking road and street lights in the gram sabha but till date nothing has been done.

According to villagers, now they are travelling from Nagargao to Valpoi Town covering a distance of 8 kms. Construction of the linking road would have cut the distance by three kms, but the Forest Department is not granting a NOC to construct the stretch linking the bridge to the rain road, say the residents.

Earlier there was a mud road which was joined to the main road of Thane Panchayat. While constructing the Hedode bridge, the GSIDC has dumped quarry stones on this 200-metre stretch, making it difficult for vehicles to use it. The road is so rough that the vehicles using the stretch suffer from punctures and the drivers enjoy bad health due to the bumpy ride.

“This bridge is beneficial to Thane and Nagargao Panchayat area residents. In Satre and Derode village the Forest Department had given NOC to built roads. Why are they not giving NOC to us to construct a 200-km road?” asks Bhanudas Salelkar, a villager.

“I had taken a resolution in Village Panchayat Nagargao and I have applied for NOC to the Forest Department. They are saying it's their property and there is no provision for a road. They say they are ready to give a NOC allowing permission to lay tiles but till date they have not given any clearance,” says Adv Gaurav Joshi from Hedode village.