Local businesses bear the brunt of reconstruction delay at Kalinga Ghat

Reconstruction work at Kalinga Ghat in Kandhamal in Odisha continues to face setbacks as persistent rainfall has once again disrupted progress. It has been over a month since a massive landslide washed away a portion of the road, but the repair work remains incomplete.

The prolonged delay has rendered the ghat route unusable, severely affecting local transportation, trade, and livelihoods. Residents and business owners have expressed growing frustration over the administration’s slow response to restoring the crucial link.

Residents of the Durgaprasad area in Bhanjanagar block, who run various shops near the ghat, are facing severe disruption due to the prolonged closure of the road. Many of them rely on raw materials, such as firewood, sourced from nearby forests for their businesses. With transport and movement severely affected, shops have come to a complete standstill, leaving shopkeepers financially strained.

Financial Impact on Shopkeepers

Most shops in the Durgaprasad Square area remain closed, while only one or two continue to operate. Business owners, who previously earned Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month, have now lost this income. 

One shopkeeper said, "All of us sustained our businesses with loans. Our businesses boomed during certain seasons when tourists travelled through the area, but with the landslide and no road availability, it has become very difficult for us."

Concerns Over Road Maintenance

Locals have alleged that road construction and poor maintenance contributed to the landslide. A resident stated, 

"The ghat has become weak because of the road construction. There were around 60 drains, but they eventually got filled with rocks. The authorities never bothered cleaning them, leaving no space for water to pass, which resulted in this kind of destruction."