Gurupriya bridge to be completed by June next year

Bhubaneswar: Construction of the Gurupriya bridge in the cut-off areas of Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district will be completed by June next year, chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said today.

“The construction work of the bridge is in full swing to ensure its timely completion", he told media persons after presiding over the Unified Command meeting here.

He said the government will make full security arrangements to foil any threat from the Maoists to ensure that the construction work of the bridge will not stop midway.

On its completion, there will be direct road communication to 151 cut-off villages as a result of which the people of these villages will have more livelihood options.

The chief secretary also said the meeting discussed about the anti-Maoist strategy and improvement of infrastructure like Command headquarters and requirements of the Battalion and the Company of the Central para-military forces deployed in the left wing extremism (LWE) areas. Apart from this, some operational issues between the Central forces and the state government were also discussed.

Talking about the strategy to counter the Maoist menace in the state, Padhi said a blueprint has been prepared to intensify joint combing operations in 19 Maoist prone districts by the CRPF, BSF and the district police.

“At the same time, steps would be taken to expedite developmental works in these districts.

State Director General of Police (DGP), IG, Operation, Home secretary, Development Commissioner, Works secretary, Joint Director, Central Intelligence, Director, Special Intelligence, Inspectors General (IGs) of BSF and CRPF were present at the meeting.