Boudh: Even as six years have passed, construction of a bridge on the Mahanadi river connecting Dhalapur in Boudh district with Athamallik in Angul district is yet to get over.
The bridge is going to become the lifeline of the residents in Boudh district which is geographically situated in the middle of the state. The bridge will open up communication facilities for the residents of western Odisha with that of people in southern and northern parts of Odisha.
The bridge once completed will improve facilities for education and healthcare services as well as new avenues and opportunities between Boudh and Angul districts as well as with south Odisha.
However, construction of the bridge which is of three kilometre long is showing no signs of completion. This has sparked resentment among residents who are waiting from the start to connect with their counterparts in Athamallik and south Odisha.
Reports said the Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone of the bridge in 2015 which was scheduled to get completed by December, 2020. Rs 168 crore was sanctioned for the bridge and a consultancy agency Ranjit of Gujarat received the contract for its construction.
However, the agency instead of completing the work within the scheduled period is going on extending the deadline. Residents have demanded the administration to intervene and ensure that the project gets completed soon for the benefit of the residents.
When contacted, Niranjan Dhal, assistant engineer of the Works department admitted that the consultancy had slowed down the implementation of the project. He however, said that the bridge construction works would get completed by December this year.
PNN