Since last many days it has been speculated that Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray is not comfortable within his party for many reasons. That is why he has been keeping himself away from many party activities in local and State level.
Even on many occasions, it was presumed that very soon he would be coming back to BJD as he had praised many times the activities of State Government in social media. Besides, while the Chief Minister’s and other Ministers’ visits were protested by the BJP cadres in different parts of the State, in Rourkela it never happened.
Now, the Facebook posting of Ray regarding second Brahmani bridge has once again raised the speculation over his political future. In a disappointing note, Ray has mentioned that it is quite disconcerting and embarrassing that the second Brahmani bridge, foundation stone of which was scheduled to be laid in July 2015 by Union Minster of Road and Transport Nitin Gadkari, is yet to gather steam. This was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the State on April 1 2015 where he assured people of the early construction of the bridge. Although some initiatives were taken by the Government for commencement of construction of the bridge, they have failed to gather momentum due to lackadaisical attitude of the authorities. Several times the project has been reviewed, conditions altered, budgets reconfigured and bids have been invited, but to no effect.
Notably, the required land has been acquired from Rajmundra to Barkot and due compensation has been paid to the displaced.
The first bid was invited in April 2015, on which some new conditions were imposed in May 2015. A review meeting was held in June 2015 in which a decision was taken to make CC roads instead of bitumen. However, the bid was cancelled on September 23, 2015 and the documents were revised for design requirement, cost escalation and variation in proposal under EPC mode. One fresh bid was invited on March 1, 2016 for construction of work from Biramitrapur to Rajamundra at a cost of `850.91 crore, which also included the proposed Brahmani bridge. The technical bid for the work was opened on April 19 last, but the financial bid which was to be opened within 50 days has been postponed indefinitely. Now words are out that the present bid will be cancelled in favour of one fresh bid.
All this suggests listlessness and confusion on the part of the Government. I am quite disillusioned with the way the project is dealt with and apprehensive of the progress of the project under such an uncertain dispensation. A project of such importance should have been taken seriously by the department than dealt with in a half hazard way, said Ray.
On more than one occasion, Ray has met the Union Road and Transport Minister and the Prime Minister and apprised them of the urgency of building the bridge but in vain.
The inordinate delay, despite the Prime Minister’s intervention smacks of serious flaws in the systems and processes in the ministry which need to be identified and addressed. The Prime Minister has on several occasions spoken about the primacy of the nation to that of the party-”Nation First, Party next” than to the party. On the same
principle my constituency holds more importance to me than the party, viewed Ray.
Ray also mentioned that he brought the matter to the notice of the Prime Minister during his last visit to New Delhi and subsequently a meeting has been scheduled on December 26 with Union Minister of Road and Surface Transport Gadkari. He is hopeful that something concrete will come out.