ROURKELA: Inordinate delay and cost overruns have become synonymous with bridge projects in Sundargarh district. Tainsor-Timjor bridge near Rourkela faces a similar fate.
The under-construction 612 metre long and 7.5 metre wide bridge over river Brahmani in Lathikata block is estimated at around Rs 21.5 crore, excluding land acquisition cost for approach roads.
The project is the region’s one of the key infrastructure developments as it envisages to connect 10 neglected Gram Panchayats (GPs) of the block on the western side with rest six GPs and block headquarters on the eastern side of the river.
The stone for the bridge was laid in January 2014 and three months later Rajlaxmi Constructions Private Ltd (RCPL) kicked off the ground work with 30 months deadline.
After nearly 20 months, only right abutment has been completed and work is in progress for left abutment. Eleven pure wells were dug on the river bed and land acquisition for 900-metre approach roads is pending. This pace of work, according to experts, in no count could be described as rapid.
What has led to fear of time and cost overrun is the dubious tag that the construction has earned, delaying projects in the district. Though the bridge project is being executed by Rural Development (RD) Department through RCPL, delay in this case too cannot be ruled out.
Lathikata block Chairman Chamru Tirkey said the project would be key to take development benefits to remote villages like Fikruchandi, Rudkupedi, Baunsjor, Musapali and Goilo-Purunapani. At present, the poor villagers of Tainsor, Birda, Birkera, Badadalki, Jarakudar, Garjan and Balanda GPs travel between 40 km and 60 km via Panposh to reach the block office, while Government schemes seldom reach the people on the other side of the river, he said.
Sources said it had taken RCPL six years to complete the road overbridge at Basanti Colony here and total project cost escalated from Rs 14.25 crore to around Rs 23 crore.
The Koel bridge at Jhirpani over river Koel was completed in 2013 after RCPL had started work in 2009 at a total cost of Rs 13.6 crore, including land acquisition. It was to be completed in 30 months from the date of awarding contract but the agency could finish it only in 2013. Approach road work to the bridge is still on and could take another one month to complete.
Another construction firm had also taken six years to complete Lalei bridge in Bonai sub-division with the cost reaching around Rs 32 crore against tender value of Rs 29 crore.
The bridge was also started in 2009 with 30 months deadline but was inaugurated only in November this year.
Executive Engineer, RD Department, PK Sahu said works are being regularly monitored to ensure early completion and assured that cost escalation would not be allowed.