Girish remembers how villagers raised money for the building materials. "It cost Rs 1.45 lakh. Three workmen and I worked on the bridge for three months free of cost. The remuneration of the first project was the enormous joy and gratitude of my village people. Their world had literally expanded and they could go to Sullia to work, children could be educated and veterinary doctors and health assistants began visiting the village. The feeling of oneness the project fostered in the village gave my life a new direction,” he says.

Subsequently, Girish started working on fabricating and erecting steel structures and constructing biomass gas plants.

This continues to be his main source of livelihood while he constructs suspension footbridges as a service — “because I like to help villagers cross rivers and streams”.

Ayyasshilpa today is a 36-member team. It constructs two to three bridges every year, the longest being the 220 meter bridge across the Gharaprabha river in Hukkeri near Belgaum.

“We have built 62 bridges till now, 23 in Kerala and one in Andhra Pradesh.

Twelve of the footbridges have been slung between sturdy trees, which is not only cost-effective but also saves trees too.

We are now using eco-friendly ferro-cement decks for flooring the bridges. Some of the new bridges also allow two-wheeler movement,” he says with a shine in his eyes.

Girish is keen to share his knowledge and experience. “I have received inquiries from Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. I have asked them to put together a 10-member team including an engineer. I want to share my knowledge free of cost. I want this bridging business to spread across the country,” says the man on a mission.