Odisha to construct river bridge if Centre not serious: CM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said his government will construct the second bridge over the Brahmani river in Rourkela if the Centre did not show seriousness in carrying out the construction.

The Chief Minister assured a delegation that he will again take up the matter with the Union government.

"If they (Centre) are not serious, the state government will construct the bridge out of its own resources," Patnaik said after meeting a delegation from Sundergarh district led by Biju Janata Dal MLA Mangala Kisan at the state Secretariat here.

In July, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had laid the foundation stone for the long-awaited second bridge over the river.

However, the construction is yet to take off, fuelling anger among area residents. Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Dilip Ray has also been demanding the bridge.

The new bridge will cost around Rs 550 crore and is expected to be completed in two years. The bridge is part of a six-lane National Highway from Rajamunda to Biramitrapur.

"Rourkela is the second economic capital of Odisha. Transportation in the area has been affected as the old bridge is dilapidated. There is an urgent need for the second bridge," Mangala Kisan said.

--IANS

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