The Jalpaiguri district administration and the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) has managed to acquire land after ten years to build approach roads to a bridge over the Karala river that cuts through the town.

In 2011, the SJDA had allotted Rs 1 crore to build the bridge over the Karala. Its construction had commenced near Rabindra Bhavan and Samajpara and it was completed in due course.

However, the bridge could not be made operational as around 15 families — who live on either sides of the river — did not agreed to part with a portion of their land that was required to build the approach roads to the bridge.

“The bridge is lying unused for around 10 years now. It is good that all these families have finally agreed to provide portions of their land. The SJDA will provide funds and the local civic body will buy land from them on the prescribed rates of the government,” said Bijoy Chandra Burman, the SJDA chairman.

In Jalpaiguri, there are four bridges over the Karala river. Construction of another bridge is in progress while one of these four bridges needs immediate repairs.

Abhishek Tiwary, the DM who held a meeting of the district level land purchase committee, said: “The compensation to be given to each of these families will be calculated this week. We will then follow the necessary rules and regulations and procure the land from the families. All of them have already provided no-objection certificates to us.”

The bridge connects wards I and IV of the town.

“As one of the four existing bridges over the Karala river which connects Head Post Office More with PWD More and mainly used by residents needs repairs, it is necessary to have a new route or else, there will be traffic pressure on the remaining three bridges. We will put all efforts to ensure that the work of the approach roads is completed at the earliest,” said Sandip Mahato, a chairman-in-council of Jalpaiguri municipality.