Joda: With several bridges on the stretch of Bamebari-Banshapani road of State Highway-2 in this block of Keonjhar district being in a dilapidated condition, commuters are apprehensive of mishaps while passing through them.
The bridges near Jaribahal DIL, the one near Jurudi Hatapada and the one over Jurudi Dalki nullah are on the verge of collapse making travel on these bridges potentially unsafe.
Every day hundreds of mineral dumpers, trucks, school buses, passenger buses, ambulances, auto rickshaws and two-wheelers ply on these bridges. Locals say that the poor condition of these bridges pose a threat to life and property.
While the plates fixed to the lower parts of these bridges have come off in many places, the surface has a number of craters on them at both ends giving a nightmarish experience to the commuters.
With these bridges becoming totally unsafe, local residents feel the government is waiting for a major mishap to take place in order to initiate steps for their repair.
Bridges apart, road condition in this area is no better either.
The district mineral fund (DMF) had earlier sanctioned Rs 47 crore for the construction of a 13 kilometre long road here. The contractor firm that has been awarded the project, however, works at a snail’s pace raising doubts about the competition time. Quality of work is also questionable at best, complained locals.
Surendranath Mohanty, a senior citizen of the area, rued that the authorities consider their jobs done after pouring a few truckloads of morrum every time locals complain about the poor roads.
PNN