Odisha CM seeks 2nd bridge over Brahmani river

Bhubaneswar, May 25 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday requested the Centre to construct a new bridge over Brahmani river in Rourkela to facilitate vehicular communication.

"There is an old, narrow two-lane bridge over Brahmani river on the NH 143, located near Panposh of Rourkela, connecting Biramitrapur and Barkote," Patnaik wrote in a letter to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

"The bridge is in a dilapidated condition and is not at all adequate to meet the requirement of safe and swift movement of people and freight," he said.

Informing that the road carries a heavy and congested mining and commercial traffic, the Chief Minister said the road is the economic lifeline of this part of the state and is catering to the rapid industrialisation process.

"I apprehend that communication between Sambalpur and Rourkela may be severed at anytime, thereby abruptly disrupting the movement of coal, minerals and other produces in this part of the state," he added.

He said that it would have a detrimental impact on the economy of the state.

"I would request you to intervene in the matter urgently and direct the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) for taking immediate action towards construction of a 2nd bridge over river Brahmani near Panposh on the NH-143 so as to alleviate the traffic congestion on the existing old and weak bridge, in the larger public interest," Patnaik stated in his letter.

Earlier, BJP legislator from Rourkela Dilip Ray had expressed his dissatisfaction with the Centre for not constructing the second bridge even after assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.