Bhubaneswar: The politics on the second bridge over the Brahmani gained momentum Monday with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik dashing a letter to Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Jayram Gadkari to build a bridge or allow the state government to do so.
Expressing concern over the delay in construction of the second bridge over the river on NH-143, Patnaik urged Gadkari to construct the bridge soon otherwise the state government may be allowed to do so. “The second bridge over the river Brahmani is yet to be started by the National Highway Authority of India in spite of repeated requests. The unusual delay in commencement of the bridge work may result in a disaster,” CM wrote to Gadkari
Seeking his personal intervention, Patnaik urged the minister to direct the NHAI for immediately take up the construction or alternatively allow the state government to construct the six-lane bridge as a stand-alone project in the larger interest of the state.
Earlier in the day, the CM had assured Sundargarh citizens to construct the bridge from the state’s own resources if the Centre does not show seriousness.
“I will again take up the matter with the Centre. If they (Centre) are not serious, the state government will construct the bridge out of its own resources,” Patnaik said while meeting a delegation from Sundargarh led by BJD MLA Mangala Kisan at the Secretariat.
The CM had written twice to Gadkari over this. In July, Gadkari had laid the foundation stone of the long-awaited second bridge over the river. However, the construction is yet to take off fuelling anger among locals. However, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan blamed the state for the delay in construction of the bridge. The project is being delayed not due to Center’s apathy, but due to the non-accordance of clearance by the state forest department, he twitted.
PNN