Puri: Driven by an absolute commitment to readying Puri for the massive influx of devotees for the upcoming Rath Yatra, Principal Secretary Department of Works, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, is spending sleepless nights overseeing the final phase of the Matiapada Railway Over Bridge construction.
This critical transit project is being prioritized following directives from Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi and Works Minister Shri Prithviraj Harichandan, who have demanded a seamless and safe travel experience for the lakhs of pilgrims arriving in the holy town.
With hundreds of thousands of devotees and tourists expected to descend upon the holy town of Puri for the upcoming Rath Jatra, the state government is making concerted efforts to ensure smooth traffic movement and an overall hassle-free experience.
Central to this traffic management blueprint is the Matiapada Railway Over Bridge, which serves as a vital artery for vehicles entering and exiting Puri.
To ensure that the bridge is fully functional before the grand festival begins, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Department of Works has been personally monitoring the project through frequent site visits and rigorous reviews.
During his latest inspection of the construction site, Principal Secretary Shri Singh engaged with the engineers and contractors to evaluate the ground reality.
While the launching of the bow-string girder has already been successfully accomplished, the Principal Secretary has directed officials to accelerate the subsequent deck slab casting work. Additionally, he stressed the urgency of wrapping up the launching and deck slab casting for the final remaining PSC girder span.
Completing a sensitive infrastructure project of this scale within a tight deadline, especially while navigating unpredictable and inclement weather conditions, is a monumental challenge. Despite these hurdles, Principal Secretary Shri Singh remains firmly focused on delivering the critical project on time.
Beyond the main bridge structure, the Principal Secretary has issued strict instructions to the construction agencies and senior officials to finish work on the ROB service roads to make them traffic-ready before the festival.
He also ordered the immediate removal of construction debris and materials from the vicinity to ensure the entire area remains clean, safe, and organized for public use.
Senior officials, including the Chief Engineer of National Highways and the Superintending Engineer of the NH Division, accompanied the Works Secretary during the review to streamline coordinate execution.