Inordinate delay in getting land, forest and environment clearances have created uncertainty over construction of a second Brahmani bridge here.Significantly, with the life of the existing Panposh bridge over the Brahmani river already expiring, the need of the second bridge has become very much essential.
The bridge, which serves as the gateway to Rourkela, has been one of the major political issues since the 2009 elections. The early construction of the second Brahamani bridge has once again become an issue in elections this time too.
The Rourkela Assembly seat’s BJP candidate Dilip Ray has kept this issue on top of his agenda. “My priority will be the construction of second Brahmani bridge as soon as possible,” said Ray.
Sources said, the National Highway Authority of India limited (NHAI), had awarded tender to Gammon Infrastructure Private limited (GIPl), a sister concern of Gammon India limited (GIl), to construct a four lane Biramitrapur-Barkot road (126 km) on PPP mode for a whooping Rs 1,000 crore. Accordingly, the GIPl had opened an office here naming it as Birmitrapur-Barkot Highway Private limited.
The officials of Birmitrapur-Barkot Private limited had developed coordination with the local administration and different Government agencies for getting necessary clearance and possession of land for construction of the four lane road and the second Brahmani bridge.
According to sources, as per the procedure, the company would have started construction work of the road and the bridge after getting about 80 per cent of the total land required for the purpose. But, it is yet to be handed over the required land and other mandatory clearances. Fed up with the delay in land acquisition and getting the forest and environment clearances, the company recently opted out of the project and also closed down its Rourkela office.
“We incurred losses of more than Rs 1.5 crore during the last one and a half years, as the project got delayed due to delay in land acquisition. Hence, we have decided to quit the project.” said project head S Satapathy.
While talking to The Pioneer in November 2013, Rabindra Nath Mishra, Rourkela ADM and land Acqusition officer of the project were optimistic that 80 per cent of land would be provided to the NHAI for commencement of the project work by end of December, 2013, but that could not be done causing the construction company GIPl to ultimately quit the project and close its office.
When contacted, a NHAI official confirmed the exit of the GIPl from the project. “The GIPl has already quit from the project. We will retender the project once again.” said NHAI project director Sailaja.