Construction site of the proposed bridge over the Kharkai. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Jan. 2: Five months have passed since Mangotia Construction bagged the contract for the construction of a parallel bridge over Kharkai, but there has not been any progress, so far.

Seraikela-Kharsawan district administration officials said the Rs 15.60-crore bridge construction has hit a hurdle, as 75 trees have to be uprooted on the Adityapur side of the bridge. The trees are on the forest land that needs to be cleared for the construction of the approach road.

Concerned over the delay, the district administration has decided to call a meeting next week. Officials of Seraikela-Kharsawan road construction department, developer and senior officers of forest department would be present at the meeting.

Earlier, social organisation Jan Kalyan Morcha wrote a letter to secretary of road construction department demanding answer for the slow pace of the construction.

The organisation called for regular monitoring of the project by senior officials in road construction department.

“Mangotia Construction has been given 22 months for completing the bridge construction. However, five months have elapsed and no work has started at the site. We have been told that there is a tussle between forest department and construction com-pany but it needs to be sorted out soon in the interest of the people,” said convener of Jan Kalyan Morcha Om Prakash.

Organisation officials said regular monitoring by senior officials of the department would help in smooth construction work.

“The old bridge is in a bad shape. The administration has banned plying of heavy vehicles (carrying more than 18 tonnes load) on the existing bridge. The residents of Adityapur are facing problems due to traffic congestion on the existing bridge. The proposed one should be built soon,” said another official of Jan Kalyan Morcha.

Despite pressure from all fronts Mangotia Constructions has till now managed to complete the soil testing work of the bridge.