Bhadrak: Thousands of people in a number of riparian villages in Bhadrak district have to suffer commuting problems on a daily basis in the absence of bridges across three rivers -Salandi, Baitarani and Mantei – even as contractors reportedly show little interest to take up construction of several bridge projects.
In such a situation, people have no way but to ferry across the rivers with boats, risking their lives.
According to reports, tenders have been floated for bridge projects, but none evinces interest in them.
On the western side of Salandi-Baitarani confluence is situated the famous Baba Akhandalamani shrine, while the port town of Chandbali is on its east. Kendrapara district lies on its south. Locals lamented that in the absence of bridges, people wanting to visit Aradi from Chandbali have to cross Salandi three times. There is a proposal for a bridge project, but its construction work is yet to be taken up.
Salandi flows through Sanapanki and Tentulidihi Baincha. The course of the river is deep in these areas where there is threat from crocodiles.
Sources said the earth being of alluvial nature, contractors do not like to take the risk of constructing bridges in these areas.
Hundreds of people from Bhuinpur and Bhuinbruti under Nandapur panchayat are ferried across Salandi from Dhenakhania ghat. Small mechanised boats overloaded with people and their bikes bumbling along the river course is a common sight at several ghats here, locals said.
Fares for boat riding has been high for locals while ghat lease holders have no concern for the passengers being ferried in such a dangerous way. Worse, the administration has no control over the lease holders to fix the carrying capacity of the boats. Besides, the boats are not equipped with life jackets, said locals.
Same is the situation at Barabati ghat on Mantei river under Tihidi block. According to sources, tenders for a bridge at this ghat had been floated several times in the past, but no contractor is keen to take up the project. As result, people of Pirahat under the block face perennial commuting problems while going to Basudevpur area.
Locals say the three rivers have become hurdles for development and communication in most parts of the district.
Boats are only the means of communication in scores of villages at several ghats like Baliapal, Habali, Choudhary, Bansada, Panchutikri, Brahmatikiri, Shagunaadia, Kalinali and Kasturikan. Besides, thousands of people from neighbouiring Kendrapara and Jajpur districts are also dependent on boats to go to their destinations.
The bridge proposals across Mantei at Baliapal, Choudhary and Bansada ghats have been stuck. PNN