Bhadrak: In the absence of bridges across rivers like Salandi, Baitarani and Mantei, residents of Chandbali area of Bhadrak district are facing a lot of hardships.
All these rivers are choppy due to tides and people in these riparian pockets have long been suffering from commuting woes. With country boats without proper license being the only lifeline to cross the rivers, residents often put their lives in risk.
However, residents of villages like Baliapal, Tinitar, Choudhary, Habeli, Panchutikri and Dhanakhania have no option other than travelling in country boats daily as the ambitious projects are yet to be executed.
Locals alleged that even as the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has laid foundation stone for the construction of the bridge on both the rivers back in 2015, the work on the same is yet to begin.
Nearly 2 lakh people from 36 panchayats including Chandbali NAC have to depend on country boats to reach Dhamara for work. The villagers alleged that they have to cough up more as boat fares were high.
The absence of proper transporting facilities has forced the people to travel across the rivers on boats over-loaded with bikes and people on a daily basis.
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.
“We have a constant fear of drowning. But with no other option we have been dependent on this since last 25 years,” a local resident 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.
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.
The executive engineer of Road and Housing department Bhadrak, Amiya Nayak said that a tender has been floated for the construction of the bridge. Chandbali MLA Byomkesh Ray said that the delay in construction of bridge is due to inland waterways.
PNN
