Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has inaugurated a motorable steel girder Bailey bridge over the Rima River at Khamlang in Changlang district. The bridge is a significant milestone for the people of Khamlang, who have been awaiting this connectivity project for a long time. Mein stated that the bridge will transform the lives of the people of Sangwal Khamlang, Tikhak Khamlang, and Mossang Khamlang villages. The region was previously connected to the outside world only through a hanging bridge, forcing villagers to travel through Jairampur and Jagun in Assam before reaching Miao, covering over 80 kilometers.
With the inauguration of the bridge, Miao is now just about 7 kilometers away from Khamlang, reducing travel time to approximately 15 minutes. This will bring immediate benefits to residents by improving access to healthcare, education, markets, government services, and economic opportunities. The bridge also strengthens connectivity along the historic Stilwell Road corridor connecting Nampong and Jairampur and enhances access to the world-renowned Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary, opening new avenues for tourism and local economic growth. Residents of Changlang expressed happiness over the inauguration of the bridge, which had been a long-pending demand of the region.
A resident noted that the absence of the bridge had caused difficulties and forced them to travel long distances to reach Miao, but the new bridge will significantly reduce travel time.
