Cuttack: The rural development department has initiated steps for the new concrete bridge across the Mahanadi river that will run parallel to the Dhabaleswar Jhula that connects the mainland to an island housing a Shiv temple.

The 254 metres long and two metres wide Dhabaleswar Jhula had been commissioned in October 2006. Cuttack collector Sushanta Mohapatra told The Telegraph that construction of a concrete bridge to the Dhabaleswar temple was the government's priority to allow increased movement during the last five days of Kartika.

"The new concrete bridge will prove beneficial for commuters," Mohapatra said. Every Kartika month, thousands of devotees throng Dhabaleswar, one of the most popular Shiv temples in Odisha. The number rises to nearly seven lakh during panchuka - the last five days of the month. The Dhabaleswar Jhula can bear the weight of 1,500 persons at a time. But, the bridge has been allowing only 600 devotees at a time for the past eight years to ensure safety, official sources said.

"The department will spend Rs 17 crore for the concrete bridge over two years. But, the suspension bridge will remain functional," the collector said.

"Survey and soil testing have been completed and construction will start within two months," the department (Cuttack division) executive engineer Deb Prasad Das said. He said the bridge would be 250 metres long and 5.1 metres wide.

Temple priest Binayak Patri said: "It is believed that bathing in the Mahanadi at Dhabaleswar and having a darhsan of the lord during panchuka washes off one's sin.""People from all eastern states and other regions visit the temple. Though Shivratri and Bada Osha are two major festivals, Dhabaleswar Mela, too, draws huge crowds between January and February."