Odisha Govt Removes Panda Infra From Jatni Flyover Construction

Bhubaneswar: The state Works Department on Wednesday removed Panda Infra Projects Private Limited from the Jatni flyover bridge construction project, following allegations of inferior quality work.

The company’s standard of construction had come under the scanner after a 5 X 5 feet iron plate of the under-construction overbridge near Kudiary Bazaar in Jatni collapsed on August 9.

Following the mishap, members of Jatni Traders’ Association had demanded disengagement of the firm from the flyover construction project citing poor quality work. They had alleged that the pilling of the flyover bridge should be 60 feet, but the agency used 20-feet iron rods instead.

In May, the state government had ordered a vigilance inquiry into the alleged irregularities in construction of the flyover.

The construction firm was in the news in the wake of two mishaps at under-construction Bomikhal road overbridge in the last 10 months.

On May 4, a labourer identified as Ajay Gumit of Lathikata in Sundagarh district was killed after getting trapped under a railing of the under-construction Bomikhal flyover that caved in.

On September 10 last year, a section of the flyover had collapsed leaving one person dead and 10 others injured.