Bhubaneswar: In a bid to substantially
improve communication network in rural areas, Orissa
Government has decided to construct 300 rural bridges at a
cost of Rs 1,000 crore.
The construction activities, to be taken up under
the Orissa Rural Bridges Scheme, would be implemented out of
the state’s own resources, official sources said today.
The decision to launch the initiative was taken at a
high level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as
part of the state government`s endeavour to strengthen road
communication in rural areas, they said.
The decision assumes added significance in the
backdrop of extensive damage caused to a large number of roads
and bridges during the recent floods which played havoc in at
least 20 of the 30 districts of the state.
As many as 60 roads managed by the works department
had been breached during the recent floods, which also cut off
the main link to the district headquarter town of Jajpur
following collapse of the 100-year-old Rudhia bridge on Budha
river, sources said.
The concerned authorities have been asked to explore
the possibility of putting in place a temporary bridge used by
the military during emergency situations as construction of a
new bridge would take a long time, they said.
Instruction has also been issued to take necessary
steps to ensure construction of the new bridge before the next
monsoon, they said.
The state government has already made it clear that Rs
1,208 crore would be utilised in repair and restoration
operation in the flood affected areas within the stipulated 45
days, sources said.
PTI
