Govind is 18 years old he has just passed his matriculation and is willing to take admission in B.A 1st year in nearby degree college. His father is not having enough income from small land to pay for his higher education so Govind sells watermelon and cantaloupe in summers near Sharda rail cum road bridge when there is traffic near the bridge. The single lane bridge plays an important role in life of people like Govind. Because the traffic has to pass from both sides and also the train has to pass from same bridge it gives immense oppourtunity to sell different items. I remember bollywood movie ‘Traffic signal’ here. There are children and other adults who are dependent on this traffic, whose age range from 11 to 28 years, they speak quickly and act fast. Some sell ground nuts, cucumber, namkeen, gutkha and some children selling gutkha have even started taking it.
There was one time when people derived livelihood from it, but now the story has changed as a new double lane bridge has been erected in recent years and is ready for the vehicles to pass. So, no traffic, no selling and no education for Govind. We can imagine how development of new bridge is going to effect all those who were earlier dependent on traffic for livelihood near 100 years old Sharda bridge.
