Balasore, December 19(Odisha.in) About 700 people from Balasore and members of Utkal Samaj, a social organization staged a demonstration in front of the State Assembly in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to press the demand for the completion of Panchupada bridge in Sadar block.
They also took out a rally under the banner of “Panchupada Setu Nirman Samiti” (PSNS) from Master Canteen to PMG square and then hold a meeting there.
“Later, a delegation met Works minister, works secretary and chief engineer and submitted our memorandum,” said Bhaskar Jena, statesecretary of Utkal Samaj.
“The minister assured us to call the tender for final works within a fortnight and finish the construction of the bridge soon. The chief engineer assured us for a spot visit to speed up the work,” he added.
Organizing secretary of PSNS Deepak Mohapatra, conveners Binayak Das and Alok Behera and former Sarpanch of Sartha GP Sanjib Mandal led the rally.
Foundation stone of the bridge was laid in December 23, 1988 by the then Chief Minister J B Patnaik. While initially Rs 1.76 crore was estimated to be spent on it, but only two piers have been constructed with the cost of Rs 2 crore even after 19 years.
The present revised cost of the construction work has escalated to Rs 11 crores. After completion, the bridge would serve as a vital link for at least 1.5 lakh people of Sadar, Basta and Baliapal blocks with the district headquarters by reducing at least 30 km distance.
Odisha.in