Bordering road nightmare for motorists

Travelling on bordering road of Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts is nothing short of a nightmare.
Six-km damaged Denganali-Luhapada road in Mayurbhanj district | Express
Six-km damaged Denganali-Luhapada road in Mayurbhanj district | Express

BARIPADA: Travelling on bordering road of Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts is nothing short of a nightmare. The 27-km road, considered lifeline of the bordering villages of the two districts, has virtually turned into death traps for the commuters due to lack of maintenance.

Villagers of Basta, Jaleswar, Baliapal, Bhograi, Rajghat, Hatigarh, Khuard and Raibania of Balasore district and Tantiamuhan, Amarda, Chitrada, Rashgobindpur, Moroda, Tambakhuri, Denganalia and Jhatigoda of Mayurbhanj depend on the road for daily commute. They also use the road as shortcut route to neighbouring West Bengal. Forest dwellers depend on the road to transport their produces to local markets for sale.

People in these areas use this route to visit Jaleswar hospital, Balasore district headquarters hospital, Baripada DHH and weekly market at Dhumsahi in West Bengal. Replete with potholes and ditches, the 6 km stretch from Denganali to Luhapada has turned into an accident-prone area.At least six persons have died and 23 others sustained serious injuries due to road accidents in the last three years. Despite repeated demands, no step has been taken to repair the road, locals alleged.

Sarpanch of Jhatigoda panchayat Rebati Tudu said though Balasore district administration had repaired some portion of the road under its jurisdiction after several demands, the Denganali-Luhapada stretch in Mayurbhanj is yet to be constructed.

Meanwhile, recent heavy rainfall has worsened the road condition. Rashgobindpur BDO and the Collector have been apprised about the issue, but to no avail, she added. Locals said as the road is passing through two districts and tribal pockets, no one is paying any attention to repair it. A memorandum was submitted to MLA Maharaja Prabin Chandra Bhanjdeohim demanding MLA LAD fund for repair of the road. But no step has been taken so far, they added.Rashgobindpur BDO Lalit Soren said a proposal has been submitted to the higher authorities of the district to provide financial assistance under PMGSY.

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