Punjab’s Nangal Bridge Gone—Now Villagers Stuck Taking the Scenic Route (Whether They Like It or Not)
You know how sometimes one little thing can mess up your whole routine? Like when your usual chai stall closes and suddenly your morning feels off? That’s what happened to these villages near Nangal—except instead of missing their tea, they’re missing an entire bridge.
The “Temporary” Solution That Lasted Way Too Long
Okay, let’s be real—that old Swaan River bridge was basically held together with hope and maybe some duct tape. But here’s the thing: when it’s the only way your kids can get to school without adding two hours to their commute, you’ll take what you can get. And now? Poof. Gone after some heavy rains last month.
I talked to Ramesh, a farmer who’s now spending ₹200 daily on auto rides instead of biking across in 10 minutes. “My wife’s pregnant,” he tells me, wiping sweat off his forehead. “Last week we spent three hours getting to the hospital when her pains started. Three hours!”
Why’d They Remove It?
Officially? Safety concerns. Unofficially? Classic case of “we’ll fix it later” thinking. The local PWD guy I spoke to—who didn’t want his name used—admitted they’ve been “assessing replacement options” since 2019. Meanwhile, the detour route adds 15-20km to every trip. Try doing that in Punjab’s summer heat with a sack of wheat on your head.
Daily Life Turned Upside Down
- Kids showing up to school after first period
- Daily wage workers losing half a day’s pay just getting to sites
- Elderly folks skipping doctor visits because the journey’s too much
And get this—the auto-wallahs have doubled their fares. Because of course they have.
What People Are Saying
“My son’s teacher called me irresponsible. How? The bus comes late now!”
— Sunita, mother of two
“I used to make five trips to market daily. Now? Maybe two if I’m lucky.”
— Vegetable vendor Harpreet Singh
There’s this anger simmering, you know? Like when you keep hearing “next month, next month” about your LPG connection, but three years go by.
The Official Line (And Why Nobody Believes It)
District Commissioner’s office says they’re “expediting the approval process” for a new bridge. Same thing they said after the 2021 floods. And the 2018 ones. Meanwhile, the contractor who built the last temporary bridge? Yeah, he’s the MLA’s cousin. Make of that what you will.
It’s Not Just Punjab
Remember that bridge in Rajasthan that collapsed last year during weddings? Same story—temporary structure, permanent problems. An engineer friend in Chandigarh told me off the record: “We keep building for yesterday’s weather, not tomorrow’s.” Monsoons aren’t exactly new to India, right?
What Could Fix This Mess?
Short term? Maybe those floating bridges the army uses. Long term? Stop treating villages like some afterthought. Like that old saying goes: “Build bridges, not excuses.”
Right now though? People are just tired. Tired of promises. Tired of long detours. Tired of being tired. And honestly—can you blame them?
Where to Get Updates
- Punjab PWD Twitter (when they actually post)
- Nangal Villagers Collective (they’re actually doing something)
PS: If any officials are reading this—the next protest is Thursday. Bring good shoes, it’s a long walk from where you have to park now.
Source: News18 Hindi – Nation
