ROURKELA: Nearly four months after foundation was laid for the six-lane Brahmani bridge at Balughat here as part of National Highway (NH)-143 expansion project, the progress has not been satisfactory.
Sources said technical issues and protest by a small tribal groups continue to be the irritants for the mega national infrastructure project envisaging expansion of NH-143 (old NH-23) from Birmitrapur in Sundargarh district to Barkote in Deogarh passing through Rourkela. NH-143 continues to be dogged by inordinate delay after it was approved in 2005-2006. The work had started in 2011 on PPP mode, but stopped in early 2014 with no progress. After the entire project was revamped with provision for six-lane and second Brahmani bridge at Balughat, fresh work order has been issued to Hyderabad-based GKC Project Limited.
Laying the foundation for the first package from Birmitrapur to Rourkela section, including six-lane new bridge at Balugaht, at a cost of `382 crore, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on July 21 had asserted that the work will start in 15 days. However, with no visible progress on the ground, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram on November 5 held a review meeting forcing the NHAI authorities and the construction firm to swing into action.
An NHAI official said geo-technical soil investigation is nearing completion and the construction firm has started the spadework, including erection of reference pillars. He said they expect to get Stage-I forest clearance for the first package shortly, while other technical irritants would be sorted out simultaneously with bridge construction activities.
Meanwhile, a small group of tribals of Dandiapali has opposed the new road alignment for the new bridge. Oram had said he would personally talk to the people of the locality to expedite the project.
Reacting to the delay, Rourkela BJP MLA Dilip Ray had said the geo-technical soil investigation was done before floating of the tender and fresh soil testing is delaying the process. He said he would meet Gadkari again for time-bound completion of the project.
Ray said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the project and Gadkari laid the foundation, the project would definitely come up, but inordinate delay is triggering resentment as the second Brahmani bridge and the NH-143 expansion continue to be an emotive issue for the people.