Tardy bridge work riles Boitibhanga residents

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Gop: The Rural Development department is yet to complete the construction of a bridge over Dhanua river at Boitibhanga here even though nine years have elapsed since the foundation stone was laid for the project.
Locals claimed that the Rural Development department has so far completed only 50 per cent of the bridge project.
The state government had decided to build a bridge over Dhanua river at Boitibhanga to facilitate direct connectivity to Gop and Satyabadi blocks. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the stone for the project in 2009.
The state government had earmarked Rs 4.5 crore for the bridge project. However, it has failed to take adequate steps to expedite the construction work for the project.
At present, hundreds of villagers of Nagapur, Ganeswarpur, Andara, Ichhapur, Rahangagorada, Dabhar, Nuakholamara and Bamnal under Gop block are depending upon a wooden bridge to cross Dhanua river to reach Satyabadi, sources said.
It is learnt that locals as well as social activists have raised the Boitibhanga bridge issue with the Rural Development department secretary and local MLA but to no avail.
“The villagers are being forced to use the dilapidated wooden bridge to cross Dhanua river. The patients are being denied ambulance service due to lack of a concrete bridge at Boitibhanga,” said a social activist.
Gop Rural development department assistant engineer Smrutiranjan Kanungo said they are taking steps to expedite work for the bridge project. Departmental executive engineer Chintamani Sethi said they have faced several hurdles to construct the bridge. “Steps are being taken to settle all these issues and expedite the construction work,” Sethi said.