Bomikhal flyover collapse: Blacklisted Panda Infra resumes work!

Bhubaneswar: Almost two months after the collapse of a section of the under-construction flyover in Bomikhal area of Bhubanewar which left 1 person dead and 10 others injured, work on the flyover resumed today.

However, allowing blacklisted Panda Infra to complete the project has raised eyebrows. Official sources said the project is already delayed by 3 years. It was to be completed in 2014 but later extended to 2018. However, the mishap at the site made it difficult to meet the deadline again.

Therefore, Panda Infra was allowed to execute the work on the flyover. People have been demanding completion of the flyover soon and re-inviting tender for the project could have delayed the work more, said sources.

"We have resumed the flyover work today after performing puja at the site. Our main focus is to complete the project by March 2018," said Ranjit Kumar Sahu, superintending engineer of Works department.

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"We are happy that at last work resumed today. We hope it will be completed soon," said Kumrendra Mohapatra, local corporator.

While three engineers were suspended, construction firm Panda Infra Project Pvt Ltd was blacklisted following the mishap for violation safety guidelines during construction.

While the total tender for the project was worth Rs 44 crore, Panda Infra had alone acquired tenders of Rs 28 crore.