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A long wait for the Lanjipalli railway over bridge

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

MATTER OF CONCERN: The railway overbridge under construction in Berhampur. —

BERHAMPUR: Railway authorities have once again failed in their promise to complete the Lanjipalli over bridge in the city within a declared time frame.

At a review meeting held on April 19, Union Minister for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu, local MLA R.C.C.Patnaik, and Divisional Railway Manager P.K.Srivastava along with other railway officials had promised to finish the work of the railway over bridge near Kamapalli market in the city by October 7.

But the over bridge is yet to be completed.

The pace at which the work is being undertaken it might take six months to complete the works of the bridge.

For a long time the inhabitants at Lanjipalli and Ankuli areas in the city were demanding early completion of the construction of the much-awaited railway over bridge.

It has been more than three and a half years, since the over bridge is under construction. As per the norms the railways had to construct the stretch of the over bridge on top

of the railway tracks and the State Government had to construct the approach roads connecting the over bridge.

The State Public Works Department had already completed the work of the approach roads.

However, the railways engineers were yet to lay the roof of the bridge.

The worst sufferers due to the delay are the inhabitants of Lanjipalli and Ankuli areas of the city.

These inhabitants have to take the long route via the Engineering School Square, which means that they have to cover a distance of over five kilo meters to reach their destination. Otherwise they have to take another path through the Ramnagar level crossing, which was erected after the Lanjipalli level crossing was closed down for the construction of the over bridge.

The narrow roads with steep bends have become extremely dangerous and accidents have become quite regular.

In the past a police constable along with his two sons was run over by a speeding train at this spot while he was trying to dodge the closed gate to cross taking risks.

While the politicians want to inaugurate the over bridge to be inaugurated before next elections, it has to be seen whether railways can ever be able to complete the project.

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