TV
In a dramatic show of public frustration, agitated residents of Rairakhol town in Sambalpur district made the government officials walk through a heavily damaged and dust-laden stretch of National Highway to highlight the long-neglected road condition.
The incident took place at Bhima Bhoi Chhak, on the route connecting Rairakhol to Boudh via the National Highway, which has been in a deplorable state for a long time. The road is riddled with potholes and thick layers of dust, causing immense inconvenience and health hazards for locals.
Despite repeated complaints, no corrective action had been taken for months. On Tuesday, Rairakhol Sub-Collector Rashmi Ranjan Mohanta, NH SDO Shyam Sundar Prasad Ram, Tehsildar Prabhat Biswal, and SDPO Prashant Meher arrived to inspect the issue.
“The road has been lying in a dilapidated condition for a long time. Though we have been submitting a memorandum for its repair, no one paid heed. Finding no other options, we forced the officials to walk through the stretch so that they would realise the problem,” said Nabaranjan Miri, a local.
However, the locals, fed up with inaction, forced the officials to walk through the dusty road from Bhima Bhoi Chhak to the Post Office, giving them a firsthand experience of the daily ordeal faced by commuters.
After assessing the situation, the Sub-Collector assured the public that repair work would be completed within seven days.
“Several parts of the road have been damaged. We had a detailed inspection, and the repair work will be completed by 10 days,” said Rairakhol Sub-Collector Rashmi Ranjan Mohanta.
