Finally, 20,000 inhabitants in 151 cutoff villages spread over seven panchayats across the Balimela reservoir have reasons to cheer.
They can now hope to use a bridge over the Gurupriya river, whose construction is underway, to reach the mainland. For the last five decades, they have been using boats to touch the mainland, with long records of mishaps and hardships.
“It used to be risky rides on boat for over one hour to reach the other end. The bridge will be a big help that would save us from risky rides on boats and at the same time save a lot of time. Bad weather would not cause loss of connectivity,” said Madhab Hantal, a resident of cut-off region at the Janbai ghat.
“People are very excited over the coming up of the bridge. They are saying it will take three years to complete. Whenever it comes, the bridge will be of great help,” said Dinabandhu Pangi, another villager.
A major hindrance in the construction of the bridge was the threat from Maoists. Tenders were floated on several times even companies like Gammon India had abandoned the job mid-way.
The situation is different now with BSF personnel securing both ends of the proposed bridge. There BSF camps have been put up on both ends of the proposed bridge.
With delay in execution, the project cost has gone up. While in 1982 it was a mere Rs 4 crore, in 1982, it currently stands at Rs 172 crore.
“20 pillars were to be completed by the end of March, only four have been completed so far. Three of them have been completed fully while piling work is on the verge of completion on one pillar. The completion time has been kept at three years and the company says it will complete the project within the stipulated time,” said PWD executive engineer Arun Kumar Sahu.
Officials said a Kolkata-based firm has got the contract to construct the 910-metre bridge, connecting Janbai North with Janbai South, at an estimated cost of Rs 172.58 crore in the next three years.
The remoteness of the villages can be traced to early 60s when vast tracts of forest land and villages were submerged and remained cut-off from the mainland to make way for the reservoir of Balimela hydropower project.