The controversial Belabahali bridge over the river Kusei on the NH 215 in Keonjhar district would be constructed at the earlier identified site. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has informed this to the Keonjhar district Collector in a letter, sources said. The NHAI has also requested the Collector to provide adequate security to the contractor who would undertake the construction work of the bridge. Notably, Belabahali villagers have been opposing the proposed bridge stating that they would suffer a lot if the bridge is constructed at the chosen place.
On July 7, 2016, the villagers and police personnel had indulged in a scuffle as the former had blocked the NH demanding for the relocation of the proposed bridge site. Over a hundred villagers had been arrested.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) then intervened in the matter and sought an action taken report from the DGP on the incident.
Considering villagers’ demand, the NHAI had appointed an expert team comprising experts from IIT Kharagpur and former Works Department Secretary GC Mitra to re-examine the location and its design.