The first railway overbridge in the district, which was completed in 2010 after a delay of five years, remains unused till now as the approach roads have not been constructed.
Randia-Baudpur railway over-bridge, two kms from Bhadrak, is the first such bridge in the district.
Constructed on Anandpur-Bhadrak road at a cost of `20.23 crore, it connects Bhadrak and Keonjhar districts. The purpose of the overbridge was to solve the problems faced by the people due to level-crossing at Randia in Bhadrak.
According to sources, the work of approach roads was assigned to ARSS contractor by the State Government. The contractor stopped the work midway in 2011 and since then, no step has been taken to complete the roads.
The local people alleged that despite repeated demands, the Government has taken little interest to complete the roads.
In order to avoid level-crossing, people are using the overbridge manoeuvring incomplete roads which has resulted in accidents. According to the local police, five people have died and over 40 have been injured in accidents in the last one year.
The Chief Minister was supposed to inaugurate he fly-over along with Dhamra port in December, 2011. Despite best efforts of the district administration, the approach roads could not be completed within stipulated time.
Executive Engineer (Road and Building) Sibanarayan Barik said work of the approach roads will be completed by new contractor soon.
The then Railway minister Basan Gauda Patil had laid the foundation stone of the overbridge in 2005.
The construction work was started at an estimated cost of ` 10.74 crore. While Railway Department had to spend ` 4.92 crore, the State Government was to bear the rest.
However, the estimated cost increased to ` 13.42 crore as the design of the bridge was changed. Again the construction work delayed as the contractor, who had been assigned the work, left half way in 2008.
Delay again led to increase in the estimated cost and the bridge was completed at a cost of `20.23 crore in 2010.