TV
The long-pending Hamirpur barrage-cum-bridge project over the Koel river, seen as a vital infrastructure for water security and connectivity in Rourkela, has missed yet another deadline.
The project’s completion date has now been revised to June 2026, following years of delays, land hurdles, and technical setbacks, according to The New Indian Express.
Delays Mount Despite Revised Timeline
Originally envisioned over a decade ago, the project has become emblematic of administrative sluggishness and planning bottlenecks.
Although work on the barrage officially began in 2023 after multiple cancellations and redesigns, major construction activities only commenced in January 2024 due to delayed design approvals and technical complexities.
A 30-month completion window was agreed upon when the contract was signed in September 2022, placing the earlier deadline at March 2025.
However, as per reports, the pace of progress has remained inconsistent. While officials now claim that approximately 66% of structural work is complete, monsoon-related water level rise and incomplete land acquisition, particularly for approach roads and guide walls, continue to stall momentum.
Key Features of the Barrage
The project, pegged at Rs 309 crore excluding taxes and land acquisition costs, includes a 446.1-meter-long barrage-cum-bridge with a 7.5-meter-wide two-lane road.
It is designed to serve multiple functions- storing drinking water for Koel Nagar, Shakti Nagar, and Jagda areas under Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC), supporting irrigation across 1,200 hectares, and establishing an essential cross-river communication link.
Structurally, the barrage comprises 21 barrage gates and 8 sluice gates, with an estimated water spread that could stretch more than four kilometres upstream, enhancing water availability during dry seasons.
Notably, the foundation stone was first laid in July 2013, followed by a tender in 2014, which was soon withdrawn. The project underwent multiple iterations, from being redesigned as a pickup weir to being dropped entirely, before being revived as the current barrage-cum-bridge at Hamirpur.
