India, March 27 -- Residents of 15 villages in the Chikibiki area of Bongaigaon district have raised concerns over a 50-year-old demand for a permanent bridge over the Champabati river, citing it as a key issue ahead of the Assam Assembly elections.

"Due to hollow promises by politicians, we have been deprived of a permanent bridge between Bidyapur and Chikibiki over the Champabati river for the past 50 years," villagers on either side of the river told the media.

Over 1,200 students and a large number of farmers from 15 villages in the Chikibiki area cross the river by boat during floods, paying a fare, or use a temporary bamboo footbridge in winter, paying a toll, to reach Bidyapur, villagers said.

They have to cover only 3 km if the...