Gadkari to lay foundation for 2nd Brahmani bridge on July 21: Oram

New Delhi: Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari will lay foundation stone of second bridge over Brahmani near Rourkela on July 21.

After a meeting with Gadkari along with Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan here, Oram said, “The programme for the foundation stone laying ceremony has been finalised.”

Besides, discussion was held on national projects at Balasore-Jharpokharia, Angul-Sambalpur, Tileibani-Sambalpur and Baharagora-Singara, Oram said in a Facebook post.

It is worth to be mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said at a public meeting in April 2015 the bridge construction work to begin soon.

But, the second bridge construction over Brahmani was delayed. BJP leader and Rourkela legislator Dilip Ray raised the inordinate delay and boycotted various party programmes citing his resentment over the issue.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik also wrote to Gadkari in May and raised his concern over the delay in bridge construction and requested him to start the work immediately.

In reply, Gadkari had written that the foundation of the bridge will be laid in June third week. However, there was still delay in work due to some issues on tender opening.

The bridge from Balughat to TCI Chhak and part of six-lane national highway from Rajamunda to Biramitrapur will be built at Rs 565 crore.