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| Electric poles continue to create obstacles for road expansion work at Tankapani Road in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati |
Bhubaneswar, Oct. 13: Lack of coordination between roads and buildings division of the public works department (PWD) and the Central Electrical Supply Utility (Cesu) has resulted in inordinate delay in road expansion work at Rajmahal Square and Rabi Talkies Square. Delay in shifting electric poles has subsequently affected road expansion in these areas.
Sources at the roads and buildings division said Cesu did not shown any urgency to relocate the electrical poles for which expansion work got delayed at these two places.
“We have given them many reminders to relocate the electrical poles. But, nothing has been done so far,” said a senior PWD engineer. He also said the delay had raised chances of cost escalation of the project.
The roads and buildings division has deposited the required amount for expansion of roads between Master Canteen-Rajmahal Square and Rabi Talkies-Tankapani Road in 2009 and 2011, respectively.
The Cesu authorities, however, rebuffed the allegations and said the roads and buildings division had failed to assist them in identifying spots for relocation of electric poles.
“We have all the materials ready for this purpose, but the responsibility to identify alternative spots lies with the PWD. As long as they do not identify alternative spots for electric poles, we have nothing to do,” said Niranjan Swain, managing director of Cesu.
The work of eight-laning between Master Canteen and Rajmahal Square has been estimated to cost Rs 5 crore.
Similarly, four-laning of the road connecting Ravi Talkies and Tankapani Road has been estimated to cost Rs 2.5 crore.
In this entire episode of allegations and counter allegations, local residents and other commuters are the worst sufferers as the ongoing expansion work has created traffic chaos at these stretches.
“Ever since the expansion work has started, commuters have been at the receiving end because of traffic congestion. The work is progressing at snail’s pace,” said Rudresh Jena, a daily commuter. He also requested the authorities to complete the construction work at the earliest possible opportunity, so that the commuters could heave a sigh of relief.
Bijan Kumar Behera, chief engineer of the roads and buildings division, said he would arrange a meeting with the Cesu authorities soon to discuss about the problem. “We would sort out the problem as soon as possible to expedite the construction work,” he said.