Bamboo Bridge Remains Key Poll Issue in Lahorighat After 47 Years

Even after nearly five decades of elections and political promises, a bamboo bridge continues to be the only means of connectivity for several villages in the Lahorighat constituency of Morigaon district in Assam, making it a major issue ahead of the upcoming 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly election.
The makeshift bamboo bridge, located at Jaribar, connects villages such as Tengaguri, Tinichukia and Dhowangkhaity. Local residents say they have been demanding a permanent concrete bridge for decades, but their appeals have largely gone unheard.
Villagers claim that the fragile structure is rebuilt almost every year with contributions collected from the local community. The bridge serves as the primary route for hundreds of people who cross it daily to reach markets, schools, healthcare facilities and workplaces in nearby areas.
However, the bamboo bridge poses serious safety risks. Motorcycles and bicycles often cannot cross the narrow and unstable structure, forcing commuters to leave their vehicles behind and walk across on foot. During the monsoon season, the bridge becomes even more dangerous due to rising water levels and damage caused by strong currents.
Residents say the lack of proper infrastructure has been a persistent problem in the area for decades. Despite voting in multiple elections over the past 47 years, villagers allege that successive governments and elected representatives have failed to address the issue.
With assembly elections approaching, locals say the demand for a permanent bridge has once again become a major political issue in the constituency. Some residents have warned that they may reconsider their electoral choices if the long-standing demand for a proper bridge remains unfulfilled.
The situation highlights the continuing infrastructure challenges faced by several rural areas of Assam, where communities still depend on temporary structures for basic connectivity. Officials have yet to announce any concrete plan for the construction of a permanent bridge in the area.