Villagers in the cut-off area of Malkangiri for the first time met the DGP of Odisha, who reached them with a team of police and the Principal Secretary (Works) to inspect the ongoing construction work of the longest bridge on the Gurupriya river.
They freely mingled with DGP Sanjeev Marik, who assured them all sorts of security support and promised them that their woes will be over soon as the 910 meter long bridge will be completed in time, thanks to the overdrive of Principal Secretary (Works) Nalini Kanta Pradhan.
The Gurupriya bridge construction has started from last month.
Marik and Pradhan visited both sides of the bridge and talked to the workers, engineers and supervisors to boost their confidence.
In fact, it is a very difficult zone having no minimum facilities. Due to absence of mobile towers, people are totally disconnected with their families and friends. Constant fear of Maoists is bothering them. However, the security forces are alert on both sides of the bridge and BSF Jawans are on 24X7 watch in the area. So the construction work is going on a smooth scale and people are working fearlessly.
Expressing satisfaction over pace of the work, Marik said after the bridge is constructed, benefits of Government programmes will reach people.
Nearly 30,000 tribals have been living in this cut-off area since 1964 after the construction of the Chitrakonda dam project for the Balimela hydropower project. The cut-off area has 154 villages spread over seven panchayats.
"We are sure that the company which has been awarded the contract for the bridge will complete the work in time and full co-operation is being given from the Government side," Pradhan stated.
Currently the construction work is being undertaken by Kolkata-based Royal Infraconstru limited after Gammon India left construction work midway following its temporary camp was blown away by Maoists.
The company has started the RCC piling work of the bridge, cost of which has gone up from `4 crore in 1982 to `172.58 crore in next three year.
In 1982 former Chief Minister JB Patnaik had laid the corner stone for the bridge. But it never took off till Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made a determined move to connect the cut- off area with main land of Malkangiri. The 900-metre bridge connects Janbai north with Janbai south in Malkangiri, which is the hot bed of ultras.
Visit of the DGP and Principal Secretary (Works) will act as a booster for the people engaged in construction of the bridge, said a supervisor staying in this troubled zone.