Malkangiri: With the construction of the much-awaited Gurupriya bridge over Janbai river in the cut-off area of Chitrakonda block in Odisha’s Malkangiri district nearing completion, the state government has stepped up measures for its safety and security.
As per reports, six high-resolution CCTV cameras have been installed at different locations of the bridge. While two CCTV cameras have been put up at the piers (vertical structure), another two have been installed on the northern side and as many on both sides of the surface area of the bridge.With the installation of the CCTV cameras, the bridge would be under 24X7 surveillance of BSF personnel, who will keep an eye on the movement of the Maoists, who are reportedly planning to blow it up.
Besides, specific arrangements have been made to install high-powered lights on and around the bridge.
Talking to the media, Junior Engineer Suresh Mishra said a total of 60 high-powered electric lights would be set up in the entire area of the bridge. Besides, two hi-max lights would be installed at a height of 16 metres on both sides of the bridge. “The cost towards procurement and installation of these lights and other equipment has been estimated at Rs 40 lakh for which the Works department has floated a tender,” he added.
Sources in the Works department said the bridge would be opened for the people tentatively in the third week of May.
Following intelligence inputs about the movement of Maoist ultras in the cut-off areas, the BSF personnel and the district police have stepped up 24-hour combing operation.
The 910-metre long bridge and 1200 metre approaching road on either side is being executed by Kolkata-based Royal Infraconstru Limited at an estimated cost of Rs 172 crore. The work began in 2014 with the deployment of Border Security Forces at both ends of the bridge.
The bridge will connect 151 villages with a population of about 30,000 spread over seven panchayats in the cut-off area to the mainland.
The security personnel will have a tactical advantage after completion of the bridge.
The foundation stone of the bridge was laid in 1982 by the then chief minister JB Patnaik and again by chief minister Naveen Patnaik in 2000.
