Potholes, unfinished drains add to rain misery in Silk City
Berhampur: Roads replete with potholes and unfinished drains have added to the misery of commuters of Berhampur, the biggest commercial hub of southern Odisha, as rain lashed the city.
The road infrastructure deteriorated in several areas due to the laying of the pipelines under Janibili water supply projects while drain works of 2.6-km-long in Prem Nagar and Andhapasara Road, started about three years ago, under Odisha Disaster Recovery Project (ODRP), a World Bank funded project, are yet to be completed.
Residents of the different locations on Saturday vented their grievances while MP (Berhampur) Chandra Sekhar Sahu and MLA (Berhampur) Bikram Kumar Panda along with commissioner, Berhampur Municipal Cprporation (BeMC), Siddheswar Baliram Bondare inspected drain and roadworks in different areas of the Silk City.
“Earlier we had apprised the BeMC of problems faced by people due to the slow pace of the construction works. We demanded that the works be completed as soon as possible,” said Durga Prasad Panda, a resident.
“We visited some of the problematic areas in the city and discussed with the local residents to sort out the problems. We have asked the BeMC authorities to take up works to solve the waterlogging and overflowing of the drains in a priority manner. Similarly, we have also asked them to direct the contractor to repair the potholes and broken roads in the city,” Sahu said.
He said they would hold a meeting with the officials of the civic body and district collector to review the ongoing development works of the civic body. “We asked the BeMC authorities to take up the development of Agula Bandha, one of the major water body of the city, and the cremation grounds at First Gate and Goshaninuagaon,” he added.
BeMC commissioner said they would repair the roads and drains very soon. “Some other projects for permanent solution of the drainage problem would be taken up,” he said.
Local representatives and officials of civic body visited the areas, including Bijipur, Diamond Tank Road, Sashtri Nagar, Khodasingi, Bidutpuri Colony, Andha Pasara Road, Prem Nagar, Gate Bazaar, Lochapada Road, Aska Road, Meenakshi Nagar and Bramhanagara to take stock of the situation.