KENDRAPARA: Ever heard of people climbing a ladder to reach a bridge for crossing river? But, this is a reality in the rural parts of Pattamundai block where the hapless villagers, including women, children and the elderly, are left with little option but to use the bridge with the help of a bamboo ladder. Thanks to the negligence and apathy of Government officials.
Everyday, people of 15 villages in Pattamundai block face the daunting task of climbing the rickety ladder to reach a bridge over river Govari in Narasinghpur village. Apparently, the approach road to the bridge has not been constructed yet even as the bridge was built two years back.
“The bridge was constructed in 2013 but the contractor concerned did not build an approach road to it. This bridge is the only proper route for people of Kharianta, Abmberi, Naladalia, Narasinghpur, Pachapada, Atharabatia, Aradapalli and other villages to reach Pattamundai. Every day, villagers climb the bridge with a ladder to use the bridge to cross the river,” said a local, Jagannath Acharya of Narasinghpur. The situation worsens during monsoon.
Those who decided to take an alternate route, have to walk for 10 kms to reach Pattamundai town.
Recently, a group of villagers approached the District Collector with a memorandum demanding immediate construction of an approach road to the bridge.
Collector Debraj Senapati said the construction work on the road will begin soon.