Tardy work of Jhirpani Bridge riles locals

Rourkela: Scores of villages under Nuagaon block in Sundargarh district are facing a lot of inconveniences in communication front as Jhirpani Bridge over Koel river remains incomplete even though its work was started three years ago.

Thousands of people living across the river have to take a roundabout way via Bisra block or Kuarmunda to come to Rourkela. They have to travel 30 km more via Bisra block or 40 km via Kuarmunda block.

The foundation stone for the bridge was laid by MP Sundargarh Jual Oram. Now only 60 per cent of work has been completed.

On completion of bridge over the river, 15 km road distance can be reduced for the commuters. Further they will get greater advantages such as reducing extra expenses on petrol, direct marketing of vegetables, getting better medical facilities, education and many more.

Once completed, the bridge will facilitate better communication for villagers of Mitkundri, Koilsutar, Kerketta, Lindra, Khutgaon, Bispur, Madhupur, Limda, Nuagaon, Jhirpani and several other villages.

The bridge will also help security forces take quick action against Maoists. Sushil Kumar Kindo, Zilla Parishad Member and a social activist said farmers are worst affected by the absence of the bridge. With communication remaining almost cut off from Rourkela, farmer shave to sell their vegetables at throw away price to middlemen.  

People depend upon Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) and Ispat General Hospital (IGH) for healthcare. Patients needing immediate treatment are not rushed to hospital in the absence of a bridge, Kindo added.

Locals alleged that the authorities are callous about expeditious work for the bridge despite repeated appeals. Angry over tardy progress of the work, the locals threatened to agitate if the bridge projects work is not expedited.

Raghunath Majhi, a resident of Mitkundri informed that a bamboo bridge has been laid and people pay use fee for communication on this bridge. Around 1000 people travel on it every day and the owner used to collect Rs. 5 per person for to and fro. For cycle and bike, Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 respectively have been collected from the travelers. Locals, college and school students usually cross the bamboo bridge and used to pay on monthly and yearly basis.

After completion of bridge, commuters will be free from paying money regularly, Majhi informed. And the bamboo bridge only serves commuters in dry seasons.

Reliable sources said the Public Works Department (PWD), Rourkela, started work in 2010. “It was scheduled to be completed by March, 2014. The authorities blame the delay of the bridge on Maoist menace and deadline was extended to March, 2015,” they added.

Rs. 7 crore out of an estimated cost of Rs. 12.38 crore has already been spent for 60 per cent work, according to PWD Engineer Umesh Mishra. He added that contract of Jhirpani Bridge work was awarded to Rajlakshmi Construction, Cuttack. By the March 2015 end, it would be open for commuters to use the bridge, he added.