Official sources said the state government has requested the New Delhi-based CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to conduct a third-party quality audit for the 910-metre bridge which will be dedicated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik in the first week of June.
In a letter to the to the Director of CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research), chief engineer, DPI and Roads in the Works department, Om Prakash Patel had requested to conduct a third-party quality audit for the bridge, construction of which has been completed recently.
Responding to the request, the CSIR on May 7 has informed the Works department about its willingness to conduct the audit at a cost of Rs 38.56 lakh which has been approved by the state government.
The executive engineer of the Works department, Malkangiri on May 5 has deposited 50 percent of the amount (Rs 19.28 lakh) in the CSIR account. The department will release the rest amount after submission of the final audit report, the sources added.
The Works department has also assured the CSIR team of scientists of providing proper security by the BSF personnel and the district police during their work as the bridge is located in the Maoist-infested area.
At least 10 scientists from CRRI will conduct the bridge’s quality audit.
The Works department has also requested the CSIR to complete the audit within a month to facilitate the state government to implement the recommendations of the CRRI before the bridge is thrown open to the public.
The department has also asked the Kolkata-based Royal Infraconstru Limited, the agency which has constructed the project, to make bridge load test arrangements as part of its contractual obligation under EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) agreement.