ROURKELA: Rourkela BJP legislator Dilip Ray on Monday expressed his dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work on the second bridge over Brahmani river at Balughat in Rourkela.
The ongoing work for six-lane Brahmani bridge at Balughat of Rourkela, about one km from the existing Brahmani bridge at Panposh, is part of the first package of Rs 382 crore for NH-143 expansion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had officially announced the bridge project in April 2015 and Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways had laid its foundation on July 21, 2017. But, the work started from the first week of June this year.
Ray said, “I was surprised to see only 14 workers employed in a project with a budgetary cost of about Rs 382 crore. The pace at which the work is being executed is hugely disappointing.” He said the only visible progress is the piling work of 20 feet and added at this speed, one can only wonder how many more years it will take to complete the construction work.
The legislator said the six-decade old existing Brahmani bridge is in a completely dilapidated state and could cause a major mishap anytime. Ray said three days ago a major crack had surfaced in the old bridge. It is highly unfortunate that despite wretched condition of the old bridge, the executing agencies are moving at a snail’s pace to construct the new one, he added.
However, a senior NHAI official requesting anonymity said test piling is being done manually for the bridge abutment on one end and load would be applied to test the pressure absorption capacities of the soil and abutment piles. He hoped that the test piling would be completed in a week following which rig machines would be deployed for drilling and underground piling foundations would be completed with machineries. He said between the two abutments on both ends, piers of open foundations would come up. The official said it is mandatory for the construction firm to complete the project in 30 months adhering to strict quality norms.