BARGARH:The old iron bridge over river Jeera, which was built as a part of the old NH-6 running through Bargarh town, will soon be replaced with a new one.
The bridge, locally referred to as Junha Pulia (old bridge), is in a dilapidated condition but continues to be the lifeline for many villagers living across the river. They still use the bridge to go to Bargarh town.
Built in 1937 to connect the then Madhya Pradesh - now Chhattisgarh - with Odisha, the bridge subsequently became a part of NH 6 when a network of NHs were planned in the country. Subsequently, an alternative road was developed as a part of the NH. Since then, the administration has been apathetic towards maintenance of the iron bridge. Since taking the newly developed alternative road would require traversing more than 15 km, villagers prefer to walk and drive down the bridge to save both time and energy.
Apparently, miscreants have been stealing parts of the bridge and selling those as scrap in the local market. The Bargarh Municipality has blocked the approach road to the bridge with iron pillars to prevent movement of four wheelers over it.
Chairman of Bargarh Municipality Prashanta Behera informed that the bridge and approach road to the bridge, which was under Bargarh Municipality, has already been handed over to the Public Works Department (PWD). He said the PWD has initiated steps to construct a new bridge of 290 metres at the place. It will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1250 crore complete with the approach road.
