December 28th 2024.
The flyover bridge in Joda, located in the Keonjhar district of Odisha, has been facing continuous damage to its wearing coat. This has caused dissatisfaction among the public, who have expressed concerns about the structure's stability and durability. The construction agency responsible for the repairs has been carrying out regular maintenance, but the underlying issues with the flyover's permanent structure remain unaddressed. This has raised suspicions among residents that there may have been concealment of structural defects during the construction process.
According to an engineer familiar with the project, the flyover was designed with four beams between two pillars to provide horizontal stability to the deck. A wearing coat was then applied to the deck to increase its durability. However, it appears that the alignment of the deck and the wearing coat did not meet the necessary standards, leading to gaps and potholes in various parts of the flyover. Further inspection revealed inconsistencies in the thickness of the wearing coat and the use of improper materials, making it vulnerable to damage from heavy traffic.
Experts have suggested that these issues could have been avoided if the main structure had been properly levelled and the coat applied evenly. However, as per the agreement between the Odisha Bridge Construction Corporation Ltd. and the consultancy agency Chevrox Construction Pvt Ltd., the responsibility for maintenance lies with the agency for the next four years. Despite ongoing repairs, the structural defects persist, raising serious safety concerns for the flyover's ability to handle heavy vehicle movement once the maintenance period ends.
The member of parliament for Keonjhar, Rabindra Das, has accused the previous government of pressuring the consultancy agency to complete the project hastily in order to gain votes during the election. This has resulted in structural flaws, and Das has called for a committee to be formed to investigate the issues and carry out permanent repairs. He warned that failure to take action could lead to the collapse of the flyover, posing a serious threat to lives and property.
When reached for comment, the project manager for Chevrox, Subhankar Debnath, avoided addressing the issue of the wearing coat peeling off and instead directed the question to the OBCC for clarification. It is worth noting that the Joda flyover, the longest in the state, was inaugurated on March 11, 2024, with a construction cost of around Rs 250 crore from the District Mineral Foundation. At the time, the consultancy agency had claimed that the flyover was designed to last 100 years. However, significant problems have emerged within the first year of its completion.
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