Unsafe NH Bridge: OHRC Directs NHAI To Probe

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has issued a notice to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) over the unsafe bridge at Samajajpur in Puri district on NH-316.

Acting on a complaint of rights activist Akhand of Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR), the Commission has directed Chairman of NHAI to inquire into the matter and file a report within four weeks.

NHAI had built the over bridge last year. NHAI has admitted that the bridge had a structural problem and unsafe for commuters.

There was major negligence during the construction of the bridge. Within eleventh months of its completion, it is now unsafe and endangers the life of commuters, alleged Akhand.

The four-laning of the stretch between Bhubaneswar and Puri was supposed to be completed by September, 2013. However, it was  completed in August 2015, just before Nabakalebar.

“The quality of construction had not been maintained by the contractor agency. How NHAI and other officials had given no objection certificate to such low-quality works by the contractor agency,” questioned the petitioner.

“As a Puri is a famous Hindu holy city. Tourist is coming to the city across the country. Now the bridges endanger the human life and property, the petition said.

Hearing the matter, Justice B.K. Mishra, acting chairman of the OHRC has directed to the Chairman of NHAI to inquire into the matter and submits its report within four weeks.