After repeated demands for repair of an old flyover bridge near FM Circle, finally the district administration has undertaken the work and for the reason it began eviction of the shops and establishments constructed under the bridge.
As many as 37 shops were demolished on Friday despite moderate protests from the shopkeepers.In fact, the district administration had issued notices to the shop owners to facilitate the eviction procedure before repair and renovation in the month of February.
The work couldn’t proceed owing to the unforeseen Covid-driven lockdown.The four decades old flyover, stated to be the first rail over bridge of the State, was built with the initiative of late Samarendra Kundu, the then MP. It was thrown open in 1984 and is said to be the lifeline of the district headquarters as all the vehicles to and from the north end of the headquarters town ply on it.
Wear and tear coupled with the illegal constructions under the bridge and non-maintenance have made it unsafe.140 rooms were constructed under the bridge by the Balasore Regional Improvement Trust (BRIT)and allotted while an equal number of illegal rooms too were constructed. These rooms were used mainly for different commercial purposes. These illegal constructions caused blocking of causeways and drain points, etc., which caused more harm to the bridge.
Civil society bodies had been demanding for the repair and renovation of the bridge since long. Tendering of the work has been assigned to a private company by the Works Department.