Budhabalanga bridge work in full swing

BARIPADA: Construction work on the much-awaited high-level bridge over Budhabalanga river at Madhuban in Baripada Municipality of Mayurbhanj district is going on in full swing.On completion, the bridge will connect Sergarh and Nilagiri of Balasore district with Kaptipada, Udala and Baripada of Mayurbhanj district. The 87-km State Highway, which connects Baripada with Midnapore of West Bengal, also passes through the bridge.

While the work has been assigned to a private construction agency at an estimated cost of `27.29 crore, the Public Works Department (PWD), Mayurbhanj is supervising the work. The company has targeted to complete the construction work by December 12 this year. As per reports, out of seven pillars, work on five is underway while construction of beams and laying of slabs will be undertaken soon.

On February 3, Assembly Deputy Speaker Sananda Marandi had laid the foundation stone of the bridge in the presence of Baripada Municipality Chairperson Babita Das and Vice-Chairperson Jitendra Mohanty.
Dillip Kumar Das, a villager of Madhuban, said resentment is brewing among the locals over delay in starting work on the bridge. Damage to the century-old bridge over the river had necessitated the construction of a new one. After cyclone Phailin lashed the area in 2013, pillars of the bridge were found unsafe. Later, the PWD officials decided to build a new bridge over the river.

PWD Executive Engineer Prasanta Kumar Panda said, “Due to some technical problems, the work has been delayed. However, notices have been issued to the construction company to expedite the work and complete it within the deadline.”

Work set to be completed by December

The 87-km State Highway, which connects Baripada with Midnapore of West Bengal, passes through the bridge.
Construction work set to be completed by December 12 this year
Damage to the century-old bridge over the river had necessitated the construction of a new one