Gorkhaland Bridge Emerges as a Symbol of Collective Will and Regional Identity

KalimNews,  Darjeeling, 7 December 2025: A powerful expression of community-led development and regional identity took shape in the Darjeeling Hills on Sunday as a 140-foot bridge, locally christened the Gorkhaland Bridge, was formally inaugurated. The structure, built entirely without government assistance, stands at the confluence of longstanding political aspirations, local frustration with administrative inaction, and the unwavering solidarity of hill communities.

The bridge, connecting Pokhriabong with the Rangbull Valley at Toongsoong under the Jorebunglow–Sukhiapokhari Block, spans the Balason river and restores critical connectivity from Toongsoong Tea Estate to the Dhotrey valley and the Samripani area. It lies around 18km from Darjeeling town and was constructed through voluntary labour contributed by villagers, after years of petitions to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and the state authorities yielded no response.

Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF) chief Ajoy Edwards, who inaugurated the bridge, provided cement, steel rods and logistical assistance through the Edwards Foundation after 32 local community organisations appealed to him for intervention. A committee comprising representatives of these organisations supervised the construction. The project began in January 2025 and was completed within a year, despite what IGJF leaders described as sustained political pressure, administrative hurdles and several attempts to stop the work.

According to a statement issued by Edwards’s office, the construction phase saw episodes of intimidation, including alleged police obstruction and efforts to block essential supplies. Area coordinator Suraj Tamang was reportedly assaulted and threatened by miscreants. Nevertheless, local residents continued working daily until the bridge was completed, a fact IGJF leaders cited as proof of the community’s determination and resilience.

Edwards described the bridge as a tribute to the collective struggle and aspirations of the Gorkha people. “It stands as a reminder of the historic movement for Gorkhaland and demonstrates that united communities can overcome any challenge,” he said, noting that no MP, MLA, GTA member, or government authority contributed to the construction. Political analysts believe the bridge’s symbolism may resonate beyond the hills, especially in the context of the forthcoming Bengal Assembly elections.

This is not the first such initiative led by Edwards. On 19 August 2024, two similar bridges were inaugurated at Balabas, approximately 11 km from Darjeeling. One was a 145-foot concrete bridge, while the other was a repaired 30-foot British-era hanging bridge. Both projects relied on local manual labour, with Edwards providing the majority of funds and materials. The concrete bridge now improves connectivity from Darjeeling town to Chungthung, Bijanbari, and Soom Tea Garden, further enhancing mobility and economic opportunities for residents.

Edwards said the name Gorkhaland Bridge was chosen to honour the collective struggle, unity and historic aspirations of the Gorkha people. He described the structure as a reminder of the decades-long movement for a separate state and as a symbol of the region’s commitment to transparency, people-driven development and resistance to corruption. He added that sacrifices made in past Gorkhaland movements formed the “heartbeat” of Gorkha identity and asserted that if the people remained united, they could achieve anything.

Political observers noted that the symbolism of the bridge is likely to resonate beyond the hills, particularly in the run-up to the Bengal Assembly elections, given the emotive power of the Gorkhaland demand. Although muted in recent years since the 2017 agitation, the issue remains central to hill politics. In this context, Edwards’s decision to install a nameplate declaring the structure the Gorkhaland Bridge has drawn significant attention.

The IGJF currently serves as the main Opposition party in the GTA, which is governed by the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatrantik Morcha (BGPM) led by Anit Thapa, a political ally of the Trinamool Congress. While Thapa has not opposed the idea of Gorkhaland, the state’s ruling party remains firmly against any further division of Bengal. The quiet completion and inauguration of the bridge, despite no formal approval from the government, illustrated the political sensitivity surrounding the statehood question, with no party keen to be seen obstructing an initiative tied so closely to local aspirations.

Government guidelines issued in February 2017 require individuals or groups constructing bridges or culverts to obtain prior clearance from the Irrigation and Waterways Department through an online portal. However, no such approval was secured for this project — a fact attributed by political commentators to the charged political climate, where overt opposition to a community-driven Gorkhaland-linked effort would have been fraught with repercussions.

Edwards emphasised that no MP, MLA, GTA member or government body contributed to the construction. According to him, the bridge stands solely because of the united labour of local residents and their determination to assert both their identity and their right to development. He warned that continued government neglect would only strengthen such community-driven initiatives, which he described as victories of resilience over indifference.

Local inhabitants expressed hope that the new structure would accelerate socio-economic mobility, restore access to essential services and reaffirm the power of collective action. For many in the hills, the Gorkhaland Bridge is more than a road link — it is a testament to the will of the people and a renewed assertion of identity at a time when competing narratives and symbolic gestures elsewhere in the state have intensified debates around belonging, representation and development.