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NHAI office ransacked

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

On the warpath: Activists of the BJD and BJP taking out a motorcycle rally to the NHAI office, protesting against undue delay in completion Golden Quardilateral project on Monday. —

BERHAMPUR: The demonstration by the youth wings of the BJP and the BJD in front of the office of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in the city on Monday turned violent as the demonstrators entered the office premises and ransacked it.

These activists were protesting against the delay in the completion of the Golden Quadrilateral work on the stretch of the NH-5 that passes through Ganjam district. The protestors were led by the State Vice-President of the BJP, Pruthviraj Harichandan, district BJP Yuva Morcha president, Sarat Sahu, district president of the BJD, Subash Moharana and district president of the youth BJD, Kailash Rana.

They demonstrated in front of the office and also held a public meeting at the spot.

They shouted slogans against the Central Government for non-completion of the project. But suddenly at around 2.30 p.m. the protestors turned violent and entered the premises of the NH authority office. They ransacked some portions of the office.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Harichandan said their agitation was for three demands. The youth wings of both parties had given a memorandum on the same demands to the NHAI authorities around a month back. “We want the much delayed four lane work of the NH 5 between Sunakhala and Srikakulam to be completed within next three months”, he said.

Their other demands included high-level investigation into the corruption charges in the construction work, which became evident following the collapse of a half completed bridge of the project on the Rushikulya river.

They also wanted a survey for a by-pass for the NH 217 that passes through the city to be started soon.

It may be noted that four-lane road work of NH-5 in Ganjam district was to be completed in 2004. It was expected to be completed by October this year. But the collapse of a half completed bridge over Rushikulya river near Ganjam town last month would further delay the project by more than a year.

The 56 kilometer stretch from Sunakhala to Ganjam town is yet to become totally four lanes due to legal hassles. The company who had taken work order of this stretch had taken extensions to complete the work which had led to cost escalation and legal tussle with the NHAI that is subjudice in Supreme Court.

The Golden Quadrilaterla work from Ganjam town to Ichapur had started from June 2001 by Bumi Highway-DDB Ltd, had taken up the contract for the work which was removed from work due to its dismal performance. The NHAI floated new tenders in 2006 for the stretch and a new joint venture construction company took up the work in July 2006.

It had targetted by October 2008. But after destruction of the half completed bridge there are no chances for the project to be completed within the time frame.

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