KENDRAPARA: A 35-year-old bridge over the Devi river in Alipingal village of Jagatsinghpur district is on the verge of collapse. That, on the other hand, has now not stopped other folks from risking their lives and using it.
Not simply other folks, buses, overladen trucks and different heavy automobiles take the 458-meter-long bridge on a daily basis, imperilling it further. "Concrete slabs are missing in six places on the bridge. It has been like that since last year. Some parapets of the bridge caved in two years ago but the officials are yet to make any repairs," mentioned Basant Sahoo, a resident of Alipingal.
Saroj Nayak of Alipingal mentioned passengers had no selection however to make use of the bridge to pass the river. "Due to substandard construction and lack of proper maintenance, the bridge is now in a dilapidated state. Iron rods inside the concrete slabs are protruding out from the top of the bridge. The exposed rods themselves pose a threat to the motorists," he explained.
"While cracks have developed on the pillars of the bridge, the authorities refuse to admit that plying of heavy vehicles can cause further damage," mentioned Maheswar Behera of Alipingal.
A large number of villagers of Alipingal, Sithalo, Eakbarua, Saradaelo, Raniola, Barisana, Kasadra and different gram panchayats depend on the bridge, constructed in the 1980s, to pass the Devi.
When contacted, the assistant engineer (roads and structures), Jagatsinghpur division, Saroj Kumar Dandapata, mentioned, "The bridge was designed for light vehicles only. Now, the bridge has become unsafe for commuters due to the plying of heavy vehicles, especially sand-laden dumpers and trucks. The bridge trembles every time heavy vehicles move on it. We have asked the district administration to stop heavy vehicles from plying the bridge. We have also recently started repairs on it."
Not simply other folks, buses, overladen trucks and different heavy automobiles take the 458-meter-long bridge on a daily basis, imperilling it further. "Concrete slabs are missing in six places on the bridge. It has been like that since last year. Some parapets of the bridge caved in two years ago but the officials are yet to make any repairs," mentioned Basant Sahoo, a resident of Alipingal.
Saroj Nayak of Alipingal mentioned passengers had no selection however to make use of the bridge to pass the river. "Due to substandard construction and lack of proper maintenance, the bridge is now in a dilapidated state. Iron rods inside the concrete slabs are protruding out from the top of the bridge. The exposed rods themselves pose a threat to the motorists," he explained.
"While cracks have developed on the pillars of the bridge, the authorities refuse to admit that plying of heavy vehicles can cause further damage," mentioned Maheswar Behera of Alipingal.
A large number of villagers of Alipingal, Sithalo, Eakbarua, Saradaelo, Raniola, Barisana, Kasadra and different gram panchayats depend on the bridge, constructed in the 1980s, to pass the Devi.
When contacted, the assistant engineer (roads and structures), Jagatsinghpur division, Saroj Kumar Dandapata, mentioned, "The bridge was designed for light vehicles only. Now, the bridge has become unsafe for commuters due to the plying of heavy vehicles, especially sand-laden dumpers and trucks. The bridge trembles every time heavy vehicles move on it. We have asked the district administration to stop heavy vehicles from plying the bridge. We have also recently started repairs on it."
Commuters risk life and limb on dilapidated bridge in Jagatsinghpur
![Commuters risk life and limb on dilapidated bridge in Jagatsinghpur]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 18, 2018
Rating:
