Odisha Congress MLA inaugurates ‘incomplete’ flyover, draws criticism

Senior Congress leader and Jatni MLA, Suresh Routray invited criticism after he inaugurated the flyover at Jatni in Khordha by breaking coconut and lighting diyas.

While the MLA said the work is complete, the Municipality Chairman criticised the act of the MLA saying the work is still unfinished and the people should not use it.

“Neither the contractor nor the government has announced that the work is finished. Everyone has the right to break coconut or perform puja on the flyover. But they will be responsible in case of any mishap happens on the incomplete flyover,” said Ananta Behera, the Chairman of Jatni Municipality.

“Being the Chairperson of the Municipality, it is my responsibility to warn the citizens against using the flyover until the government declares it complete and safe to use,” he added.

The BJD also slammed Routray and termed the alleged hasty inauguration as politically-motivated.

“The work is in its last leg, but the MLA is trying to take credit for the bridge by making it look like that the work was completed during his tenure. If he had so much heart for the bridge, then why he did not initiate the work when he was the minister and Congress was in power?” said Khordha BJD Vice President, Sudarshan Sundarray.

“The bridge is not private property. If I go there now and inaugurate it by lighting a diya, people will brand me as a lunatic,” Sundarray said.

A local, Biswanath Patnaik said, “We have just returned from the bridge and the work is still unfinished. It’s been more than nine years and the bridge is still incomplete. The rains are coming, so the bridge is an immediate need for the daily commuters of Jatni. We want this bridge to be made available to us before rainwater clogs the underpass again this year.”

However, Suresh Routray found nothing wrong with the bridge and said it can be used right away. “The work has completed. I broke a coconut as an offering to the Deities. It is safe to commute now. If the underpass is waterlogged, the commuters can use the flyover from today itself. However, a proper inauguration will be done on August 15. I have invited the Chief Minister and the Railway Minister for the same.”