Gurupriya bridge misses deadline for the fifth time

Chitrakonda: The deadline for the completion of Gurupriya bridge has been extended once again for the fifth time, informed Works Department chief  executive engineer NC Pal on Monday.

Pal said that the work will be delayed due to some changes in the bridge design after a fall in the water level at Balimela Reservoir.

"We had to change our earlier design scheme as water level in the Balimela Reservoir fell by nearly 12 metres. We have erected 50 feet high tower frames at six places and the bracing of the frames are underway. It will take a maximum of two more days to complete after which lifting and slab casting work will be done. The stone pitching work of an approach road has started and it may complete within 10 days," said Pal.

He further said that the technical team is working till late night for completion of the work at the earliest. They have targeted to complete the pending work by April end.

Earlier, September 2017 had been fixed as the deadline to complete the work. Later, it was extended to November, then to February 2018 and recently to March 2018.

People of around nine panchayats in cut-off areas of Chitrakonda are awaiting for completion of the bridge as they have been depending on boats to connect the mainland since they were separated by Balimela multi-purpose irrigation project which was set up about 50 years ago.