Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday wrote to Union
Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari
requesting to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
for taking up construction of the second bridge over river Brahmani
near Panposh of Rourkela on NH-143 or alternatively, allow the state
government to construct the six-lane bridge as a stand-alone project
in the larger public interest as he had announced yesterday.
In his letter, the Chief Minister said, “Kindly refer to my earlier
letters on the above subject dated 2nd December, 2014 and 24th May,
2017. I had mentioned about the urgency for construction of the second
bridge over river Brahmani, connecting Biramitrapur and Barkote, is in
a distressed condition. This road is the economic lifeline of this
part of the state and caters to heavy mining and commercial traffic.”
“The second bridge is yet to be started by NHAI, in spite of repeated
requests. The unusual delay in commencement of the bridge work may
result in a disaster. A delegation of people from all walks of life of
Sundargarh district met me today and demanded for its immediate
construction”, Naveen added.
