Vehicular movement on the 95-km Anandapur-Bhadrak-Chandbali (ABC) road has been hit with large portions of the road damaged following rains.
In the absence of a proper drainage system, water-logging has become a frequent problem on the ABC road which is replete with potholes. Locals alleged that the problems have multiplied ever since the private agency involved in expansion work of the road left the World Bank-aided project incomplete six months back.
The completion of this road project, which commenced in February 2008, has been a distant cry since only 25 per cent of the work has been completed till date. As per the agreement between the State Government and the private agency, the work was to be completed by September 2011. Demonstrations and hunger strikes by various social and political organisations have yielded no result. “The road project has become a nightmare for the three lakh people living in the blocks of Chandbali and Tihidi. Even the district administration could take no action against the construction company for going against its commitment of finishing the road project on time,” alleged local BJP leader Bishnu Sethi.
District authorities of the Road and Works Department said although the World Bank has registered case against the company, no other company has been assigned to complete the work.
“The district administration has completed the land acquisition, and roadside trees have been uprooted. All works related to eviction of roadside vendors and shifting of religious structures have also been completed,” said Sridhar Rout, senior divisional officer of the department, Bhadrak.
Meanwhile, a World Bank team headed by Chief Engineer Nalini Pradhan visited the road near Bhadrak and Tihid area on Sunday.