Bhubaneswar: A joint team of the municipal corporation, development authority, works department and police on Tuesday demolished two major encroachments that created hurdles in the construction of the Pokhariput railway overbridge here.

The drive was conducted amid tight security near Lingaraj Road railway station. The works department, along with its private executing agency, will resume construction that had been halted for six months.

"The works department requested that we help in the drive. In the process, we demolished a single-storey house and a concrete godown, clearing 700sqft," said the development authority's liaison officer S.S. Mohanty.

The construction has faced several hurdles since work on the project began. "We have steadily overcome all the hurdles and everything is clear now," said a works department official.

An official said the department had set a new November deadline to complete the work. The 401m bridge will have a 161m approach road from the Bhimatangi-end. The approach road from Pokhariput will be 88 metres.

The works department has already completed work on 11 of the 15 pillars.

Work on the bridge began in 2013 with a 2015 deadline. However, land acquisition problems delayed the construction.

"There was a problem on the railway station side since the matter was subjudice. Now that it has been resolved, we will go ahead with the project," said the department's chief engineer (roads) O.P. Patel.

Once completed, the bridge will reduce travel time for residents of Pokhariput and nearby Bhimatangi, Kapilaprasad, Old Town, Palaspalli, Jagamara and other nearby localities.