TV
As the monsoon intensifies, residents of Malkangiri district are gripped by fear of flooding again, sources said on Wednesday.
Five high-level bridge projects on the National Highway remain incomplete due to delays by the contractor, sparking anger and concerns about public safety and connectivity.
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According to the sources, due to incessant monsoon rains, Malkangiri district is once again staring at the grim possibility of major flooding and disruption.
Despite high expectations, five high-level bridges under construction along the National Highway in the district have remained incomplete, causing distress among the residents who had hoped for an end to annual waterlogging and road closures.
Construction on these bridges began in June 2022, with an expected completion timeline of July 2024. However, even after nearly three years, only 30% of the work has been done.
The work was assigned to a contractor from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, who had won the tender for Rs 79 crore despite an estimated project cost of Rs 102 crore.
The bridges—located at Pangam, Poteru, Kangurukonda, and MV-96—are part of a 150 km stretch between Govindapalli and Motu.
Due to the contractor's non-compliance and slow progress, the district administration has terminated the contract and imposed an Rs 8 crore penalty. Notably, the same contractor had already drawn Rs 16 crore in bills for minimal progress.
The ongoing delays mean that Malkangiri, which already suffers from low-level bridges in many areas, could again be cut off during peak rains. This has led to rising public resentment and growing criticism of both the contractor and oversight agencies.
The district administration has now confirmed that a fresh tender process is being initiated to expedite the completion of the stalled works before further damage occurs.
“As the contractor concerned slowed down the bridge construction works, he was issued a show-cause notice and the contract was subsequently terminated,” Malkangiri Additional Collector, Bedabara Pradhan, said to OTV.
“The department has also imposed a penalty on the contractor. However, fresh tenders will be floated and the stalled bridge construction works will be resumed soon. With the onset of monsoon season, we are supposed to finish the half-completed works at the earliest,” the senior official stated when contacted.
