Joda: Thousands of mineral-laden trucks, buses, and other vehicles ply over the Kandara bridge across the Baitarani on NH-215 daily, but motorists warn that the over 60-year-old bridge is in no shape to continue bearing such loads as it is in dire need of repairs.
Locals said the National Highways Authority of India – which is responsible for the upkeep of the bridge – has paid no attention to the precarious condition of the bridge.
“The bridge is one of the major communication links on the national highway in this district. It has been bearing the brunt of the mineral transport on a daily basis. A major mishap is round the corner as the dilapidated bridge may cave in at any moment,” said locals.
Large chunks of concrete have fallen off, leaving iron rods exposed while cracks have developed all over the bridge. Two years ago, concrete guard walls on both sides of the bridge were washed away in floods, but the NHAI did little to repair it. This has posed serious danger to vehicles plying on the bridge.
Giridhari Nayak, former chairman of Joda block, said the bridge was built in 1956-57, but its condition has remained deplorable for the last two decades while neither the state government nor the NHAI has bothered to repair the bridge.
“Despite the ramshackle condition of the bridge, thousands of mineral-laden trucks ply across it every day. It may collapse anytime. Nobody is worried about the lurking danger,” a trucker said.
“If the bridge collapses, mining and transport sectors will take a big hit in Joda, Barbil, Champua, Keonjhar and Sundargarh. Communication to all mining areas will be disrupted. The bridge should be restored in time,” said Madhab Patra, Ram Mahakud and Mangulu Nayak, all villagers of Ramchandrapur.
They stated that the bridge has suffered extensive damage from floods every year and has become weak. PNN
