Rayagada: A truck driver who had witnessed many difficulties due to poor road connectivity at his native place finally decided to take the matter into his own hands and built three bridges that have become a blessing to the residents of around 20 villages under Kashipur block in Rayagada district.
Ranjeet Naik of Gunjaram-Panjara under Dongasil panchayat of Kashipur mortgaged his wife’s gold ornaments and purchased wooden planks and bamboo for constructing the bridges. He and his father worked together for around three months and constructed the bridges and a 4-kilometre long road.
Reportedly, the village is located in a hilly area and the Bichhala River passes through it. Besides, people of around 20 villages were suffering in absence of connecting roads to neighbouring Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts. The local administration had earlier started construction of a concrete bridge but left it mid-way.
Ranjeet, who had been witnessing such a scene from his childhood, made a resolution to build a road and finally completed it. Villagers said that he did not get any help from the villagers or from the government for constructing the bridges and the road.
Earlier when people were crossing the river, many people fell into the river and were injured, but now it is easy to travel. Ranjeet said that seeing people travelling safely on the bridges now gives him self-satisfaction.
