For decades, the Indravati river served as a formidable barrier for villages deep inside Bijapur district, particularly during the monsoon season, when it would cut them off entirely, turning them into islands. In summer, residents were forced to rely on boats to cross. During emergencies, the river's currents determined who reached help and who did not. That is now beginning to change with the nearly complete Fundari bridge, a 648-metre link over the Indravati that will provide all-weather access to more than 50 villages in the Bhairamgarh block of what was once a Maoist-hit district in Bastar. The bridge is expected to be fully operational and formally inaugurated before the monsoon arrives.
Significant Reduction in Travel Distance
Earlier, reaching Abujhmarh from the Bijapur district headquarters required a 210-kilometre detour via Orchha in Narayanpur district. The Fundari bridge cuts that distance by more than half, easing movement between Bijapur and Narayanpur and opening access to villages under gram panchayats such as Bangoli, Belnar, Chinger, Bail, Marrameta, Takilod, and Itampar.
Development and Strategic Breakthrough
The bridge will serve as both a development corridor and a strategic breakthrough in a region that remained isolated for decades due to difficult terrain and Maoist dominance. Villagers say the shift is already visible. “Earlier, even emergencies meant helplessness. Now, ambulances can reach our villages for the first time,” a local resident said.
Security and Infrastructure Push
Built by the public works department under security cover provided by CRPF camps, the bridge has accelerated the rollout of basic services. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that bridges in once Naxal-affected areas are central to the government’s focus on connectivity and last-mile development. “These infrastructure projects are key to integrating such villages with the mainstream and improving access to essential services,” he stated.
Bijapur Deputy Collector Abhishek Tamboli noted that the bridge has helped address the security vacuum in the region. “The construction of the Fundari bridge marked a turning point. It enabled easier access for security forces and made it possible to effectively encircle the strongest Naxalite zones,” he said.
Larger Infrastructure Plans on the Indravati
The Fundari bridge is also part of a larger infrastructure push on the Indravati river. The long-pending Bedre bridge project, earlier stalled due to Maoist insurgency, is set to resume after retendering. Two other bridges sanctioned at Uspari in Bhairamgarh block and Bhopalpatnam are at the tender stage. Together, these four bridges are expected to connect 78 villages of Bijapur, Abujhmarh, and Narayanpur to the mainstream.
