<p>Raichur: The bridge built across the Krishna river near Dongarampura in Raichur taluk is not open to traffic even after two years of completion. The ‘commission scam’ has further complicated the issue.</p><p>In 2008, administrative approval was given for the construction of a 285-metre-long bridge between Dongarampura and Kurvakunda villages at a project cost of Rs 7 crore. Due to delays in inviting tenders and starting work, the project cost increased to Rs 14 crore in 2020. The total cost of the bridge construction over a period of 10 years has been Rs 21 crore.</p><p>The work has been delayed due to the lack of co-ordination between politicians, PWD officials and contractor. The PWD did not release the bill to the contractor on time, so the contractor installed a path on the bridge pier without installing bearings. </p><p>While the construction was still under way, a major flood hit the Krishna in 2020 and the road was washed away.</p><p>The previous contractors did a good job. The original contractor’s outstanding payment of Rs 2 crore was withheld. Under pressure from politicians, the work was assigned to a sub-contractor. The previous deputy commissioner Chandrashekar had visited the spot and inspected it. The villagers say that he too did nothing under political pressure.</p><p>“The land acquisition process has been completed. However, some farmers have not received the money. One landowner is still demanding more compensation. Since a landowner has died, his children are demanding compensation. </p><p>“Not only that, the land is not registered in the names of the original owner’s children. Due to all these technical problems, the road has not been constructed,” says Public Works Department Executive Engineer Shankar.</p><p><strong>500 acres of agricultural land</strong></p><p>A total of 1,200 people live on the banks of the Krishna River. There is about 500 acres of agricultural land.</p><p> The residents are in trouble because the bridge work has not been completed as expected. There is no one to listen to the problems of the people here, say the villagers of Dongarampura and Kurvakunda, who have fields on the riverbank.</p><p>“We somehow walk and reach our village in the summer. Even though the bridge has been built, no road has been built on the either side. But reaching the village during the rainy season is a big challenge,” says Vijayakumar of Kurvakunda village.</p>
<p>Raichur: The bridge built across the Krishna river near Dongarampura in Raichur taluk is not open to traffic even after two years of completion. The ‘commission scam’ has further complicated the issue.</p><p>In 2008, administrative approval was given for the construction of a 285-metre-long bridge between Dongarampura and Kurvakunda villages at a project cost of Rs 7 crore. Due to delays in inviting tenders and starting work, the project cost increased to Rs 14 crore in 2020. The total cost of the bridge construction over a period of 10 years has been Rs 21 crore.</p><p>The work has been delayed due to the lack of co-ordination between politicians, PWD officials and contractor. The PWD did not release the bill to the contractor on time, so the contractor installed a path on the bridge pier without installing bearings. </p><p>While the construction was still under way, a major flood hit the Krishna in 2020 and the road was washed away.</p><p>The previous contractors did a good job. The original contractor’s outstanding payment of Rs 2 crore was withheld. Under pressure from politicians, the work was assigned to a sub-contractor. The previous deputy commissioner Chandrashekar had visited the spot and inspected it. The villagers say that he too did nothing under political pressure.</p><p>“The land acquisition process has been completed. However, some farmers have not received the money. One landowner is still demanding more compensation. Since a landowner has died, his children are demanding compensation. </p><p>“Not only that, the land is not registered in the names of the original owner’s children. Due to all these technical problems, the road has not been constructed,” says Public Works Department Executive Engineer Shankar.</p><p><strong>500 acres of agricultural land</strong></p><p>A total of 1,200 people live on the banks of the Krishna River. There is about 500 acres of agricultural land.</p><p> The residents are in trouble because the bridge work has not been completed as expected. There is no one to listen to the problems of the people here, say the villagers of Dongarampura and Kurvakunda, who have fields on the riverbank.</p><p>“We somehow walk and reach our village in the summer. Even though the bridge has been built, no road has been built on the either side. But reaching the village during the rainy season is a big challenge,” says Vijayakumar of Kurvakunda village.</p>