Ananadpur: The famous Kushei bridge on NH-20 at Belabahali in Keonjhar district is in danger. This bridge is important for Belabahali residents as it is connected to NH-20.
Sources said the British-era bridge was replaced to widen NH-20 into a four-lane road in 2015.
A clash took place between villagers of Belabahali and the administration over the change in construction site July 7, 2015. Many villagers were arrested and jailed for months. Some administration officers and policemen were also injured in the clash. But no solution was found.
The villagers and the administration again came face to face in November 2016 when the administration started construction of a new bridge November 17, 2016 at the proposed site.
At that time the administration had assured the villagers that it would complete reconstruction of the old Kushei bridge and renovate the river’s embankment within a year.
The contractor hired for constructing the bridge left it half way. Now the administration has no answer to when the construction of the bridge would be completed.
The district administration tried to get the attention of the National Highway Authority of India in this matter.
The pillars of the old bridge had sunk after a flood in the Kushei river in 1999. An expert team inspected the bridge and carried out some repair. But the bridge was declared to be in danger.
As there were no alternatives, people used the bridge without caring for their lives.
Recently, a 10-wheel truck fell off the bridge and landed in the river. This broke most of the bridge’s parapet. The bridge is weak and poses danger to commuters.
Belabahali general secretary Pramod Prusti said the administration has disappointed them. He said the bridge is the lifeline of Belabahali, but nothing has been done to repair it.
He said if the authorities do not take steps to solve this problem before November or December they will be forced to stage protests.
PNN