Rayagada: National Highway-326 passing through Rayagada district has turned into a nightmare for commuters due to the presence of a large number of potholes and the dilapidated condition of two bridges.
The highway connects Berhampur with Koraput and also is the link to the states of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. However, as many stretches of the road are not maintained properly, commuters face a harrowing time and accidents are on the rise.
The stretch of NH-326 from the Reliance petrol pump to Amlabhata square in this town is in a deplorable state. Commuters also feel unsafe while using the Naidupeta and Nagabali bridges as they shake a lot whenever a heavy vehicle passes over them. Locals pointed out that given the condition of the bridges, any day a huge mishap may occur.
However, without any other option, hundreds of heavy and light vehicles as well as cars and two-wheelers use these two bridges. Local residents said that the apathy of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has led to such a pitiable state. They informed that despite repeated pleas, the NHAI is not taking any steps to repair the roads and bridges.
It should be stated here that the NHAI office here is managed by four peons and is in shambles. Sources said that SDO Bikram Panigrahi is mostly absent and operates out of the division office at Sunabeda. Similarly, the junior engineer is also mostly unavailable at office. Locals demanded the presence of a junior engineer permanently at the NHAI office here.
The sources also informed that accidents frequently occur during the monsoons as commuters fail to identify water-filled potholes. They added that despite NH-326 and the bridges being used regularly by politicians of all parties, no one has made an effort to repair the affected stretches. They added that NHAI carries out repairing work in a very haphazard manner and hence it is of no use.
It should be stated here that, five persons including four children died after an under-construction bridge recently caved in at Uparsaja village under Kalyansinghpur block in Rayagada district. The freak mishap had triggered shockwaves all over the state. Residents demanded that the NHAI should immediately take up repairing of the highway and the two bridges before the number of accidents escalate.
Renowned advocate of this town, Lavanya Mohan Pattnaik said that he feels unsafe to travel on the highway and the two bridges and demanded urgent repairing.
When contacted over phone, Panigrahi said a proposal has been moved before the higher authorities for construction of two new bridges. He added that repairing work of the damaged stretches of roads will be undertaken soon.
PNN
