Bailey Bridge Connecting Three Dstricts in Manipur, Constructed Through Crowdfunding, inaugurated in Chandel District

A Bailey bridge named 'Khulmi Lei (Bridge)', constructed over the Gunpi River on the border of Churachandpur and Chandel districts in Manipur, was inaugurated on Friday. The inauguration ceremony was held at M. Gammnom village in Chandel district, bordering L. Molnoi village in Churachandpur district.

The inauguration was attended by BJP MLA from Saikot Assembly Constituency Paolienlal Haokip and MLA Chinlunthang Zou from Singhat Assembly Constituency, along with representatives of various Kuki-Zo civil society organisations.

Leaders of the Kuki-Zo community, while speaking at the inauguration, described the completion of the bridge as a milestone achievement and a symbol of unity among the Kuki-Zo people.

Chinlunthang Zou said that despite various obstacles, the completion of the bridge is a victory for the Kuki-Zo people and a sign of their unity.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration, Kuki Inpi Chandel Media In-charge Dominic Baite said, "This bridge is very important after we have been totally cut off from the valley. The main reason why we constructed this bridge is because we faced prolonged neglect and received no adequate response to our repeated appeals."

Dominic said the Kuki-Zo people in Chandel district took the initiative to construct the 270-foot-long Bailey bridge over the Gunpi River through crowdfunding. He added that the bridge connects Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal districts.

He further said that the bridge was built out of urgent necessity to ease the suffering of people who had been cut off from medical care, education, and essential supplies, especially women, children, students, and emergency patients.

Dominic also informed that the construction took one and a half years and that the project cost approximately ₹3.55 crore. He added that it is the only bridge connecting Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal districts.

"Earlier, there was some connectivity, but it was not very good. We had to cross the river by boat, and vehicles had to be transported across by trucks," Dominic said.