JAGATSINGHPUR: Putting their lives in jeopardy, residents of several villages in Naugaon block are forced to commute on boats due to delay in completion of Dahaniakhia Biju Setu over Devi river.The proposed bridge, which will connect Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts, continues to remain incomplete due to official apathy. As per reports, the contract agency, in charge of executing the project, has left without completing the project due to extortion threats by miscreants.
Sources said the bridge will be of immense benefit to thousands of residents of both Jagatsinghpur and Puri, especially during monsoon. With the bridge remaining incomplete, people of Tarashai, Dahaniakhia, Suakana, Talada, Paikhela, Erabanga and a few other villages have to take a circuitous route and travel 15 km to reach several areas of Kakatpur and Konark in Puri which are situated just a few kilometres away.
Villagers have to cross 2 km on water by boats to reach Kakatpur and Konark which are situated on the other side of Devi river. Without any bus route and bridge yet to be thrown open to the public, villagers, including women and children, are forced to take boat rides, thereby putting their lives in danger.In 2014, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the bridge project estimated at `2.82 crore. It was decided to complete the bridge by June 14, 2016. Though two years have passed since the completion date, the bridge is yet to be put to use despite majority work being over.
As per reports, several works like construction of the approach road are yet to be completed. Locals alleged that Royal Infrastructure Ltd, the contract agency which was engaged to construct the bridge, has fled without completing the project after getting extortion threats. Meanwhile, the Rural Development department has given the contract to another firm. Executive Engineer of Rural Development Manoranjan Patnaik said the bridge project has been delayed after the contract agency stopped work due to extortion threats. Steps have been taken to complete the bridge with help of another contractor, he added.