Puri: The Culture Department and the district administration are yet to take any steps for the preservation and beautification of the Atharnala Bridge, a heritage site in the Holy City here. The administration has also failed to introduce measures for attracting tourists to the bridge.
According to eminent researcher Surendra Mishra, King Narasimha Dev II (1278 AD-1308 AD) of the Ganga dynasty had constructed Atharnala Bridge over Musa River to facilitate road communication to Lord Jagannath temple. The 85-metre long and 11-metre wide bridge has 19 pillars and 18 passages. The state government has banned movement of heavy vehicles on Atharnala after constructing two more bridges on Musa River.
The district administration has set up barriers near the bridge to prevent plying of heavy vehicles. However, it has failed to take any step to preserve the heritage structure.
According to sources, some people have been selling fish near Atharnala for last several days and they are dumping garbage on the bridge.
Social activists and intellectuals, meanwhile, urged the state government to preserve the bridge and beautify its surroundings. “Atharnala Bridge has found mentions in Madala Panzi, the official record of Jagannath temple. It is one of the famous heritage sites in the Pilgrim City. The state government should preserve the bridge and do the needful to attract tourists to it,” said social activist Devi Nanda.
Brajabandhu Maharana, another city-based social activist, urged the state government to ban vehicular movement on Atharnala. “Heritage sites are part of our rich culture. We cannot ignore Atharnala Bridge. Authorities concerned should take the issue seriously and act accordingly,” he said.
PNN
