Berhampur’s ‘killer’ Haldiapadar overbridge altered to avoid land owned by former BJD Speaker Surjya Patro?

Fresh political heat surrounded Berhampur’s Haldiapadar overbridge in Ganjam district on Wednesday as allegations emerged that its design may have been altered to safeguard lands linked to former minister Surjya Narayan Patro and a former Berhampur Mayor.

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These serious irregularities are to be blamed for repeated fatal accidents in the overbridge that have claimed the lives of several passengers ever since its inauguration.

MLAs from both the BJP and Congress demanded an answer regarding the bridge’s allegedly flawed structure.

Sanakhemundi Congress MLA Ramesh Jena questioned whether the flyover alignment was altered to serve vested interests. He alleged that the bridge design was modified to avoid land owned by former minister Surjya Narayan Patro and a former mayor of Berhampur.

Likewise, a Congress MLA alleged, “This is not just one incident; many such incidents have occurred at that location. The BJP MLA who was speaking couldn't say it directly, but former minister Surjya Patro and a former Mayor from Berhampur had some land there. To save their lands, they had ordered the bridge to be built with curves and bends. As a result, many people have lost their lives there on multiple occasions. Despite numerous complaints from the public, no action has been taken. The engineer who provided the plan should also be held accountable. We need to investigate the system under which this was done and why these accidents keep happening. At least 100 to 150 people have already lost their lives there. A proper investigation is necessary, and the bridge needs to be reconstructed.”

While Patra’s family has not yet responded to the allegations, the controversy further intensified after BJP MLA and actor Siddhant Mohapatra also raised concerns. He also questioned whether any compromises were made during the planning stage.

“The first thing that needs to be addressed is why such a faulty design was created and whose interests it served. It is being said that the flyover design was changed because some powerful people owned land there. This needs to be investigated. As far as I am aware, I don't believe there is any other place in India where a road directly intersects and touches a National Highway in this manner. Yet, it was done there. It might be inappropriate for me to comment further before an investigation, but a probe is necessary, and the design needs to be changed,” the BJP legislator expressed while speaking to mediapersons.