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Bolangir: A portion of a bridge constructed over Suktel River in Patnagarh of Bolangir district has reportedly developed cracks, triggering panic among the commuters.
According to sources, cement plaster of the bridge connecting Tamia and Mudalsar was seen peeling out from the structure at several places while iron rod frames were found developing corrosion. Similarly, one pillar of the bridge reportedly caved in.
Sources said, local residents have stopped commuting over it fearing that the bridge may collapse anytime. They attributed the damage in the bridge to inferior construction works.
Dilip Panda, a local resident said, “Heavy vehicles are passing over the bridge. Besides, school children also use the bridge to reach their schools on the other side of the river. Nobody knows when it will collapse. The officials who inspected the bridge have hinted at poor construction works.”
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According to reports, the foundation stone of the bridge was laid by the local MLA in January 2014 and Ram Kumar Agrawal Engineers Private Limited had taken up the project. Constructed at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 7 crore, the construction of the bridge was completed in February 2016.
The residents of villages in Tamia, Fatamunda, Bharatbahal and Rengali panchayats are dependent on the bridge.
Ironically, the contract company was awarded for completing the construction works of the bridge in record time and maintaining the quality.
After the cracks came to fore, office of the engineer in chief (rural works), Bhubaneswar on February 29 issued a letter informing appointment of three officials to inspect the bridge. Subsequently, a high-level technical team from Delhi had inspected the bridge and found fault in the design and construction works.
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However, executive engineer Antuni Kishan has denied any inferior work being done in the construction and said, “There might be some low cover of cement at some places which got removed but there was no use of low construction materials.”
He further said that the concerned contractor has given in written to repair the bridge within one and a half months.
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