Bhadrak: The people in Chandbali area of Bahadrak are facing a lot of hardships due to the absence of bridges across rivers like Salandi, Baitarani and Mantei.
People in these riparian pockets have long been suffering from commuting woes while bridge projects have been hanging fire.
All these rivers are choppy due to tides and crossing them is fraught with risks due to the presence of crocodiles.
People here have no option other than travelling in boats daily while several ambitious bridge projects that have been promised by political leaders have not yet been executed.
According to reports, thousands of people from various parts of Chandbali block get ferried across the rivers at ghats of Tinitar, Dhanakhania, Baliapal and Charibatia.
The villagers alleged that they have to cough up more as boat fares that were fixed by ghat lease holders.
Boats over-loaded with bikes and bicycles along with people are a common sight at these ghats.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid foundation stones for four bridges at these ghats in 2015. Sadly, the work of the projects hasn’t started yet, locals rued.
“The government had a smooth sail in the 2017 panchayat elections on the plank of bridge projects. What kind of promises will be given to people for the 2019 elections remain to be seen,” a villager said.
Some locals blame official apathy for the delay in the construction of bridges projects. Tenders have been floated for the projects in the past, but no contractors have shown interest in taking up the work.
The Baba Akhandalamani shrine in Aradi is a major tourist draw in the district, which lies to the western side of the confluence of Salandi, Baitarani and Mantei while Chanballi port city is to its east.
People and devotees cross the Salandi river at Tinitar ghat while commuting between Chandbali and Aradi.
For the construction of a bridge here, the rural development department has floated the tender 18 times, but the department blames it on the reluctance of contractors.
Sources say the contractors are not showing interest in the project due to insufficient budgetary provision for the project.
Locals said Chandbali MLA and former rural development minister had announced that the project work will be carried forward in turn-key method.
Reports said the tender was floated several times for the project at Charibatia ghat in Mantei river under Tihidi block, but no contractors are interested to take up the work.
The only means of communication for people in Pirahat and Basudevpur are boats. Same is scenario at other ghats of Baliapal, Habali, Choudhry, Bansada, Panchutikri, Brahmatikiri, Sagunaadia, Kalinali and Kasturikan. PNN
