Byndoor MLA Gururaj Gantihole inaugurated four footbridges, including three made of old truck chassis with assistance from Dr. R. Arunachalam Charitable Trust, Bengaluru, in his constituency on July 15.
The ones constructed with the assistance from the Trust are located in Kupparu Battihaklu in Shankaranarayana village, Basriberu in Jadkal village, and Kakkanapalu Ayyappanajaddu in Hosangadi village.
One more footbridge, built by the Public Works Department of the government of Karnataka at an estimated cost of ₹8 lakh, at Kupparu was also inaugurated by the MLA.
After inaugurating the footbridge at Kupparu, Mr. Gantihole told reporters that he has plans to get at least 50 cost-effective bridges across the constituency in the coming days with assistance from the Trust. He thanked Captain Ramesh Arunachalam, the trustee, and other office-bearers of the Trust, for their concern towards residents of Byndoor constituency.
The MLA conceptualised truck chassis footbridges to address the urgent need of residents in the constituency as construction of footbridges through government grants would take time. The Arunachalam Footbridge Scheme, under Samruddha Byndoor concept, has been providing footbridges across the constituency in a time-bound manner.
While initiating the scheme two years ago, Mr. Gantihole had told The Hindu that each such bridge should not cost more than ₹2 lakh, and could be built in a short span of time. Footbridges up to a maximum length of 20 feet could be built using old chassis of trucks with concrete foundation on both the sides of rivulets.
The Ayyappanajaddu footbridge connects Ayyappanajaddu with Hosangady and Siddapura. Speaking on the occasion, Capt. Ramesh Arunachalam expressed happiness that the selfless service of the MLA and the love that the people of Byndoor have for his family were the inspiration for building the footbridge.
At the Basriberu footbridge site on the foothills of the Western Ghats, students, farmers and senior citizens assembled to thank the MLA and the Trust. They said their long-standing demand for a footbridge to cross the rivulet, which swells during the monsoon, has been addressed.
Published - July 16, 2026 01:53 pm IST