Bhubaneswar, Oct. 5: The construction of an overbridge in Balasore town, which was supposed to be over by September last year, is running behind schedule.

The progress of the fly overbridge near the Tamulia level crossing is below expectation even after lapse of more than three years from laying of its foundation stone.

Missing the target, works department expects that the bridge will be completed by the end of December this year. Authorities, however, claim that more than 60 per cent of its work had been completed.

Explaining the reasons behind the delay, works department's assistant engineer (Balasore division) S.S. Dey said: 'The original plan and drawing were altered by the railway, resulting in an initial delay for about six months to begin the work. Besides, the height of overhead high-tension wires was about 12 metres, which needed to be raised to 19 metres.'

'The original project cost of Rs 44 crore is most likely to be revised by another Rs 10 crore due to the delay - mainly because of alteration in the original plan and labour problem,' he said.

The slow pace of works has irked local people. With this rate of progress, they fear, the bridge completion may take another one year. 'It appears that the project will be completed towards the 2019 general elections,' said local resident Pradeep Das.

Another resident, Manoj Nayak, said: 'The bridge is very essential for hassle-free movement of ambulance and other emergency vehicles. The delay is compounding commuters' miseries with the growing traffic congestion.'

After prolonged agitations, the foundation stone for the bridge was finally laid on February 11, 2014, by the then railways minister, Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, with the initiative of the then local MP, Srikant Jena. The bridge construction was undertaken with 50:50 share pattern of the Centre and the state.

'The bridge cost is being equally borne by the Centre and the state, while the approach roads will be constructed out of the state government funds,' said Dey.