It’s now finalised that Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will lay foundation-stone of a second bridge over river Brahmani near Panposh here on July 21 in presence of Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan and Rourkela BJP MlA Dilip Ray though tender for the project was yet to be finalised.
While the BJP has hailed this, the Congress has alleged that it is nothing but a political gimmick. The local BJP unit is preparing to celebrate the event, but the Congress is planning to oppose the ceremony alleging it as premature and eyewash.
local BJP leaders including Harihar Routray, Dhiren Senapati, Jagabandhu Behera, Nihar Ray, Ramesh Bal and Ranjit Nayak have described the proposed bridge as lifeline of Sundargarh district since the existing 65-year-old bridge is in a precarious condition.
local DCC president Biren Senapati alleged that the foundation stone laying programme is plotted to fool people of Rourkela. That is why his party would oppose it, he said, adding that a second Brahmani bridge is linked with the emotions of Rourkela people and various political parties and social organisations have been demanding it.
Senapati said that during the UPA regime the work order for the project after finalisation of tender was awarded to a company.
But due to inordinate delay in land acquisition, waiting for about two years the company withdrew from the project.
During the 2014 election campaign here, Narendra Modi had stated that after giving vote to the BJP candidates, people should leave the responsibility of development of Rourkela to him. Rourkela people voted for the BJP MlA and MP candidates. After becoming the PM, on his maiden visit to Rourkela on April 1, 2015, Modi had declared that construction for a second Brahmani bridge would start soon.
Meanwhile, two years have passed, but the Union Government could not finalise tender for the project.
Secondly, as the venue for proposed bridge sight is shifted, it may lead to problem for land acquisition. So, before land acquisition and finalising of tender, planning for foundation-stone is a farce, said the DCC chief.
It may be noted that earlier MlA Ray had also urged for finalisation of tender before laying of foundation-stone.