Protesting substandard construction work in NH 53 in Sambalpur – luhurachati portion, members of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) on Saturday burnt an effigy of Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari.
The BYJD members gathered at four places, like Ainthapali, Burla, Bargarh and Attabira of undivided Sambalpur, to show their protest against the road executing agency and the Central Minister. They also demanded CBI probe into the poor quality work of the National Highway- 53 in the portion including permanent solution to prevent landslide at laxmi Dunguri near Burla that is sure to cause a catastrophe if not controlled timely. The agitators also submitted a memorandum to the President of India through the Collectors of Sambalpur and Bargarh.
State BYJD president Sanjit Mohanty said that a private firm, Ashoka Buildcon, was entrusted the construction of the 88 km stretch road from Sambalpur to luhurachati.
“But the work is of total poor quality. We have complained over the issue to appropriate authorities many a time but in vain. Even, we had submitted memorandum to Minister Gadkari and staged demonstration in front of the office of the Project Director, NHAI here demanding CBI investigation. But no steps were taken although hundreds of cores of rupees have just to gone to drain,” lamented Mohanty.
Because of the indifferent attitude of the NHAI officials and the Union Minister, the common people are suffering a lot as accidents are quite common on the road. A gaping hole had also appeared on the road on Friday that created panic.
“The silence of the Union Minister and the NHAI officials has also raised suspicion about their involvement in the construction of the road and financial irregularities. Only a CBI probe into the incident can bring the truth to the light,” Mohanty demanded.