Aradi: The chances of building a bridge at Tinitar Ghat under Chandbali block of Bhadrak district have brightened with a technical team visiting the place and conducting soil tests for choosing a suitable spot for the bridge.
It may be noted that so many times tenders had been floated for the bridge construction, but they had to be cancelled several times. Technical teams had also visited and conducted soil tests, but nothing had materialised.
Not a single brick has been laid there till date, locals alleged. Now, local leaders assured that the bridge would be certainly built. Thousands of people living in Aradi, Nandapur, Sundarpur and Olaga panchayats have been suffering from commuting problems in the absence of a bridge. Boats are the only means of communication in the region.
The technical team comprising chief engineer of Bridge and Roof Agency Om Prakash Patnaik; R&B department superintendent engineer Manas Patnaik and engineer DNC Pal; executive engineer Manas Mishra; executive engineer of Bhadrak R&B division Amiya Ranjan Nayak; along with Chandbali MLA Byomkesh Ray and Zilla Parishad president Dwijabar Rout inspected the place Sunday and tried to pinpoint the right spot for the bridge.
However, Congress and BJP activists have termed the move as a political gimmick as the election is drawing closer. BJP leader Purna Chandra Pani said it will be a welcome step if the bridge is built.
Congress leader Manoj Biswal observed, “When elections are round the corner, leaders come with loads of false promises to mislead the people. The BJD had promised to build bridges at other places like Dhanakhania and Panchutikiri, but nothing has become reality till date.”
PNN