Foot bridges as a solution for crossing rivers and canals
(A NOTE BY THRIVE, CHINTAPALLY, NALGONDA) WWW.THRIVE.IN
ranga@thrive.in 9866305772
The river and canal systems are the lifeline for the populations in the
agrarian economies like India. It may happen in many cases, the
habitations are separated by a natural river or a man made canal. In
many of the places governments have provided road bridges for regular
road traffic to cross the river/canal. But road bridges are costly and are
available say for 5 Km each or more. In many cases the communities
use country boats and small ferries to cross the river to reach their
agriculture fields/schools/hospitals and others.
The boats that are used are many times outdated and do not operate
on al the timings and not safe when the river flows high.
Recently near Duggirala in Guntur district one ferry capsized killing 13 people and
the events happen on regular basis.
At the same time, economies scale do not permit construction of a big
cement bridge which might cost Lakhs and some times crores if the
span is more than 100 meters.
This problem is acute in river valleys (western ghats/eastern ghats)
many of the villages are cut of the rest of the society for months in
monsoon days.
Solution available
A novel solution is available from an
enterprising engineer in the form of
suspended footbridges that cost from 1 lakh
on wards.
These type of bridges are easy to built
(some times less than 2 weeks) and require simple
maintenance and community can participate in the
construction. They permit two wheelers and cattle also.
One can build bridges upto 300 meters (this is the longest
built by Ayas Shilpa )
One innovative engineer Mr. Girish Bharadhwaj has worked a simple solution for this
by constructing suspended footbridges. He mostly uses local materials and develops
capacity locally for the simple maintenance of the bridge. 50 meter span bridge may
cost some where around 4 Lakhs (upper side)
Ayas Shilpa (the organisation) has built 121 foot bridges in all. And demand is
steady. His longest is the 220 meters one, near Belgaum across the river Ghata
Prabha. He is very open in helping communities that do not have much money. He
guides them to places where they can scrounge old cables and usable steel. In 12
instances bridges have been slung between sturdy trees instead of costly RCC
pylons. His mission is to connect people with opportunities.
Address of the pioneer
Girish Bharadhwaj
Ayas Shilpa
Gandhinagar
Sullia (D.K.) 574 239, Karnataka
Mobile 094481-23475
Landline: 08247-230475