Agarpada: Even as people have been suffering commuting woes here in Bhadrak district, an ambitious bridge project with an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore is hanging fire for various reasons amid allegations of sub-standard construction.
According to reports, construction of the bridge across river Salandi under the Biju Setu Yojana was initiated in January, 2014 after tender was finalised in 2013.
Locals were euphoric when its foundation stone was laid in the presence of MP Arjun Charan Sethi, MLA Prafulla Samal and other political leaders.
The leaders had assured the people that the bridge will be completed as soon as possible. An agreement with the contractor stated that the project was supposed to be completed in 2015.
Though three years have passed, only a few pillars have been raised in the name of construction.
The project is aimed at providing connectivity to Charigaon, Chakrapadhi and other villages under Bant block.
Locals alleged the project, a long-standing demand of the locals, has been a victim of departmental neglect.
Earlier, there was a floating bridge across the river to facilitate communication. The bridge was narrow and got submerged under water in the rainy season. Thus locals demanded a permanent bridge across the river.
“During heavy rains, people have no way but to take a roundabout way of 5km to reach Agarpada. Students are worst affected,” locals said.
While tardy pace of work has been a major stumbling block for the early completion of the project, locals raised doubt over the durability of the bridge.
They alleged the contractor has botched up the work by using substandard material in the absence of monitoring.
Locals had protested against the substandard poor work several times in the past and had submitted a memorandum to the department concerned.
Alleging use of substandard stone chips, metal and sand, villagers demanded regular monitoring of engineers at the site to check the irregularity.
Engineer Bijay Kumar Das had assured the villagers that the work will be carried out according to plan estimate and cost.
Locals said despite all this, the contractor has been using soil-mixed sand of the nearby ghat in the concrete mixture.
They expressed their unhappiness as the contractor has thrown their concern to the winds and continues to botch up the work.
“Local people will stage an agitation against the ongoing substandard work in coming days,” warned Charigaon sarpanch Banamali Behera. PNN
