Sambalpur, Aug. 16: Nearly two years after starting, the public works department (PWD) is yet to finish building the high-level bridge over Mandlia Nullah on Ring Road of the city.

The works department had set June 15 this year as the deadline for the project.

When the work began in November 2014, the PWD had set a target to complete the construction by March this year. Due to delay in procurement of material, the work moved at a slow pace. The PWD then revised the deadline to June 15.

PWD deputy executive engineer Narayan Patel said: "Construction of the high-level bridge is almost complete. The construction of the approach road leading to bridge will take time."

He said construction of the approach road would require acquisition of around 1.56 acres of private land and added that a separate tender had been finalised for the approach road.

"A decision has been taken to construct a temporary road for now and allow movement of vehicles on the new bridge as soon as possible," Patel said.

The construction of the bridge is estimated to cost Rs 4.66 crore. While the length of the bridge is around 70 metres, the width is 12 metres. People who commute on Ring Road will benefit from the bridge.

Ring Road connects the city with NH-6 at Laxmidungri. There is already a bridge over the Mandlia Nullah on the Ring Road. But it is narrow and does not have a railing. Also, it is in quite a dilapidated condition and gets submerged after heavy rain.

Once the new bridge starts functioning, the existing narrow bridge will be dismantled.

"Hundreds of people will benefit from the new bridge and the authorities should work faster to make it functional as soon as possible," Laxmikanta Panda, who commutes through the stretch regularly.