Haldiapadar flyover row: Former BJD leader Surjya Patro’s son admits family-owned land under bridge

Amid allegations of structural irregularities in Haldiapadar overbridge in Berhampur City of Ganjam district, Biplab Patra, son of late BJD minister Surjya Narayan Patro, spoke out for the first time on Thursday.

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

In an exclusive reaction to OTV, Biplab acknowledged that land beneath the Haldiapadar flyover was once owned by his family. However, he clarified that the land had been sold long before any proposal for bridge construction existed.

Surjya Patro’s son dismissed allegations against his family and his late father as baseless, questioning whether ownership of land by a political family could influence the design of a bridge.

Biplab further stated that the overbridge was built with joint approval from the erstwhile State government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), raising counter-questions on how such approval was granted if there were design concerns.

Indirectly targeting Congress MLA Ramesh Chandra Jena, Biplab questioned whether other overbridges like the Kamapali flyover in Berhampur were also altered and if the upcoming Gate Bazaar overbridge might also face similar issues.

“Is it so that wherever there is a political leader’s property, the overbridge bends? But how will it bend at Gate Bazaar? Can it ever be straight? Moreover, there are two Departments concerned: NHAI and the State government. Since the highways authority is involved, how did they pass the design without approval from the Department?” Biplab questioned.

Meanwhile, Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena made a significant statement, admitting that the bridge design had flaws since its construction. The Minister has assured that improvements would be made in future planning.

“No, this is not just about today; the design has been flawed since the day it was built. Many lives have been lost needlessly. Everyone has condemned how the work was carried out to serve personal interests. Those who are speaking up today were not saying anything before, but it is necessary to speak out. I have raised my voice and complained many times before the public of Ganjam,” Minister Jena stated.

“The design had not been changed until now, but this recent incident (the tragic road accident that occurred on January 31, leaving five people dead) has opened everyone's eyes. Following the Haldiapadar incident, everyone's eyes have been opened. It will certainly be redesigned properly now, in the interest of the people,” the Transport Minister asserted.