Kaptipada: Locals of Kaptipada block in Mayurbhanj district alleged that heavy vehicles still ply on the Mahisasuri Bridge even after the PWD department closed it for heavy vehicles by declaring the bridge dangerous for vehicular movement.
The 40-year-old bridge situated on the Son river suffers from severe damage. The bridge has developed wide cracks and sunk from the middle part.
The road over it connects Kaptipada block to the district headquarters. More than 40, 000 locals of six panchyats depend upon the road.
People going to Balasore, Oupada, Sora, Bhadrak, Balasore, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack also depend upon the bridge.
PWD engineer Jagdish Behera and executive engineer Satyabrata Nayak cordoned off the area where cracks had appeared and banned vehicular movement, especially heavy vehicles after barricading the area.
But the heavy vehicles are still plying on the bridge in night without caring for the restrictions imposed on the bridge.
Locals said, the bridge is the shortest route for the trucks and dumpers involved in illegal smuggling of stones from Kalamgadia and Sarisua mines. Night time is the best time for them for doing such illegal affairs, added locals.
Locals demanded police security for the bridge during night to check vehicular movement. But the police said it is impossible to provide police security at the bridge every night.
Following the low height of the bridge flood water of Son river goes over bridge during the rainy season. This is another reason for damaging the bridge.
Locals demanded another tall bridge over the Son river as many people have drowned in flood water while crossing the bridge.
Officials of the PWD department assured locals that they would take up the matter with the higher-ups on an urgent basis and will construct a new bridge on the river.