In a glaring example of slow progress of work, construction of a bridge over a nullah in Odisha's Bhadrak district is hanging for the last 45 years causing problems to the people belonging to at least ten gram panchayats.
Though the bridge over the nullah of river Baitarini at Kaudia under Chandbali block completed three years ago, it is of no use as there is not approach road upto the bridge, under construction since 1968.
Despite promises made by successive governments, only ground work was done for two walls till 2007 when the state government finally carried out construction work. People belonging to Nandapur, Baligan, Bhuinbruti, Tentulidiha, Sundarpur, Shankarpur and Chandabali have to cross the Kaudia nullah to reach hospital, school and police stations.Frustrated over the inordinate delay, the local people had constructed a bamboo bridge over the nullah and used it to reach the other side risking their lives.
But during rainy season, when the turbulent Baitarani is in spate, the bridge is of no use.
"We have been suffering for ages. We fail to get medical facilities, help from police and fire service during emergency. We have been demanding for a bridge since independence," secretary Janaseva Mandali Prakash Nayak. In 1967, the state government had decided to construct a bridge over the nullah and laid foundation stone the next year.
Four tenders were invited till 2004 but there was no progress of work owing to various reasons. The bridge construction work commenced in 2007 and completed 2010 but there is no end to the problems facing the local people as there is no approach to road upto the bridge. "We still depend on the temporary bamboo bridge to cross the nullah, as there is no approach road to the bridge," said sarpanch of Tentulidiha Nirmala Tikayat.
