BJP condemns Ray for embarrassing Centre

| | ROURKELA | in Bhubaneswar

The BJP for the first time on Wednesday condemned the act of its Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray as the latter has been putting his own party in embarrassment by giving public statement on the issues like construction of second Brahamani bridge and upgradation of super specialty hospital.

Sources said while the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has been claiming that the construction of work of second Brahamani bridge has been started, Ray, after visiting the site on Monday, showed his displeasure over the slow progress of the work. Ray in his social media account also had expressed his apprehension of completion of the work within the stipulated period, if the work goes at the current pace.

Significantly, Ray has been publically raising the issue of inordinate delay in construction of secosnd Brahamani bridge and upgradation of Ispat General Hospital to a medical college cum super specialty hospital, which was promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a public meeting at Rourkela on April 1, 2015.

Responding to Ray's recent allegation, a team of BJP under the leadership of State BJP secretary and head media cell Dhiren Senapati met the NHAI officials Rourkela and took stock of the situation regarding construction of second Brahamani bridge.

Later, in a Press release, Senapati claimed that the project was delayed mainly due to delay in land acquisition and forest clearance, which were the responsibilities of the State Government.

“After repeated reminders of necessary clearance, the State Government had given the same during April 2018, after which the work order was issued by NHAI on May 23, 2018," the release said. "According to the NHAI officials, the bridge construction work has to be completed within thirty months, i.e., by December 2020," the release said.

"The NHAI officials have confirmed that the progress of the work has been satisfactory and would be completed in stipulated period," the release added.

With the support of the Union Government, Rourkela has been included as a Smart City, under Amruta Yojana project and UDAN scheme. But , a host of projects like Koel barrage, Ring Road, wholesale market, etc., whose foundation-stones were laid by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Rourkela has been a non starter," the release said.