Rayagada: Travelling on the Nagavali bridge which is termed as the lifeline of Rayagada district has turned into a nightmare for commuters as it is in a rundown condition allegedly due to lack of proper maintenance and upkeep. The bridge on Nagavali river at Jaykaypur, a part of National Highway-326, is now in a rickety condition and the possibility of collapse of the dilapidated bridge cannot be ruled out with rainy season ahead. The bridge, connecting Rayagada with Bhubaneswar, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts, serves as a major link for commuters. However, notwithstanding its unsafe conditions, hundreds of passenger buses, goods trucks, small cargo vehicles and two-wheelers ply on the bridge for their destinations on a daily basis.
Lack of timely repair has made the bridge unsafe for the commuters. The situation has come to such a pass that one can sense the bridge shaking vigorously during the movement of the heavy vehicles. Residents alleged that potholes have appeared on the bridge and iron rods used for its construction are protruding out of the surface turning the bridge into a deathtrap for the commuters. The district administration is holding meetings to combat possible floods and cyclones in the upcoming monsoon season; however it has completely forgotten to repair the bridge for safety of the commuters, locals and commuters alleged. Residents have demanded for repairing of the bridge time and again but the concerned officials are yet to take stock of its condition, let alone make any effort for its repair. This has sparked resentment and anger among the residents in the area. The bridge was submerged during the severe flood in Nagavali river six years back.
However, neither the district administration nor the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is taking any preventive measures or repairing it for safe commuting. Meanwhile, lifespan of the bridge has come to an end but the district administration is yet to declare it as unsafe. People risk their lives while travelling on the bridge and nobody knows when someone will meet with an accident, Sandhya Kulaka of Rayagada town said. The two-wheeler riders often have to face harrowing times as their vehicles break down or the tyres gets punctured due to presence of large number of potholes on the bridge, a local Jitu Mandangi said.
Residents have demanded the NHAI to intervene and immediately repair the bridge failing which it might collapse anytime soon. When contacted, Superintendent Soumajini Sethy refused to speak on the issue. Efforts to contact Rayagada MLA Appala Swamy Kadraka for his comment on the issue failed to yield any result as he did not respond to the call of this correspondent.
