Puri collector Aravind Agarwal, SP Sarthak Sarangi and other officials inspecting the unsafe railway over bridge OP Photo
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 10: A railway over bridge (ROB) at Samjajpur on Puri-Bhubaneswar national highway, which is in a bad shape, would be repaired by June 30, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said here Friday.
“I am aware of the ROB condition. The contractor will start work June 20 and complete it by June 30,” Gadkari told reporters here.
When reporters asked about poor quality work, he said, “Quality was not compromised with at all. However, a slab underneath the bridge has given in.”
Earlier in the day, Puri collector Arvind Agarwal along with Puri superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi and NHAI manager (Tech) Sanjay Channa visited the spot on receipt of an NHAI warning about the likelihood of the collapse of the bridge. Agarwal directed the NHAI to complete the repair work at the earliest. The collector and SP also discussed the issue with Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here.
“We have directed NHAI to repair the bridge. Until then, alternative arrangements will be made for the road users. The old road will be relayed for traffic,” Agrawal said.
The state has asked NHAI to repair the old road at its own cost, he added.
When contacted, works secretary Nalini Pradhan said, “The NHAI looks after the bridge construction. It has collapsed as soil has been used instead of mortar. It will be replaced by concrete soon. The NHAI officials assured that work will commence immediately and completed by June 30.”
Meanwhile, PCC chief Prasad Harichandan who visited the spot demanded a CBI probe into the issue, “This is not just graft, but a mega scam for which the state government is to blame.”
The NHAI in its letter has indicated that “There has been some structural problem in the ROB. Hence, it has become unsafe for the road users and needs to be repaired at the earliest. Until then, traffic is required to be diverted from the level-crossing as use of ROB at this juncture may cause mishaps.”
