Even as a bus-stand was inaugurated at Athagarh in the presence of two Ministers including local MLA and Agriculture Minister Ranedra Pratap Swain, a melee was created at the venue.
People alleging substandard construction works in the Rs 3.58-crore project opposed the Ministers. However, some goons present their assaulted the protestors, including Congress leader Councillor of Ward No. 3 of Athagarh NAC Manoranjan Pattnaik, who showed black flag.
The project of the Odisha State Road and Transport Corporation (OSRTC) was inaugurated by State Urban Development Minister Usha Devi, apart from Minister Swain, on Thursday.
Last week all high level officials of the OSRTC had visited the project site and declared to inaugurate it on November 1. Meantime, cracks have appeared in the newly constructed bus stand building and the contractor mended them in a hurry keeping the inauguration of the project in view. However, apprehending poor construction and embezzlement of huge funds from the project, the locals demanded a probe into the scam.
A BJD youth leader also drew the attention of the higher authorities of the department to the substandard works. However, Ministers Swain and Devi were unfazed and rather praised the Naveen Patnaik Government for its welfare programme.
The police detained Pattnaik and later released him on personal bond.
Meanwhile, State Youth Congress president Dr Smrutiranjan Lenka condemned the incident and alleged that the BJD was not allowing the Opposition to air grievances for valid reasons.
