Cuttack, Oct 13 (UDN): A major infrastructure project worth nearly Rs 72 crore in Odisha’s Cuttack district continues to languish, with construction of the Huluhula Bridge remaining incomplete more than three years after work began. The prolonged delay has left residents of several panchayats struggling with recurring connectivity problems, particularly when rising water levels disrupt communication routes.
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The proposed high-level bridge over the Huluhula River at Ghodabar in Subarnapur panchayat under Banki block was planned to provide reliable connectivity to areas frequently affected by the flow of Mahanadi water into the river.
During periods of high water flow, movement between several localities becomes difficult, affecting residents of six panchayats in Banki block and four panchayats in Tigiria block, besides people in Badamba and Narasinghpur areas.
To address the long-standing problem, the bridge project was taken up in 2023 after a contractor secured the tender. However, construction reportedly made limited progress before coming to a halt, leaving the project incomplete despite the passage of several years.
Design and Coordination Issues Hold Up Work
The delay has reportedly been attributed to coordination problems between the contractor and the Public Works Department (PWD). According to reports, the contractor has faced difficulties proceeding with construction because the required bridge design and technical plans have not been properly made available by the Athagarh PWD division.
The alleged delay in providing essential technical details has hindered further progress, prolonging uncertainty over the completion of the project.
The lack of visible progress has raised concerns among residents who depend on the proposed bridge for regular travel, access to essential services and movement between neighbouring areas.
The Assistant Executive Engineer of the Athagarh PWD division did not offer a response regarding the reasons for the delay.
Collector Assures Steps to Resolve Pending Issues
Cuttack Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde has assured that steps would be taken to address the outstanding issues and expedite the project.
The Collector said he had previously raised the matter with the concerned Superintending Engineer during a grievance hearing and urged officials to ensure that the bridge was completed at the earliest.
He also stated that the land acquisition issue on the concerned side had been resolved. The Collector added that he would personally visit the construction site during the week, if necessary, to examine the remaining hurdles and facilitate a resolution.
Residents Await Completion of Crucial Infrastructure
The Huluhula Bridge is considered important for improving connectivity across several areas of Cuttack district, especially during periods when river water disrupts existing routes.
Its completion is expected to reduce travel difficulties and provide more dependable access for residents of the affected panchayats.
However, with construction still stalled, questions remain over when the Rs 72-crore project will be completed. Resolving the pending technical and administrative issues will be crucial to restarting work and delivering the long-awaited connectivity benefits to local communities.