Sambalpur: Contractor Flees Leaving Work Half-Finished; Road Repair Remains Incomplete Despite Repeated Demands, Public Dissatisfied

Road Repair Left Incomplete for 3 Months

Sambalpur: In Rengali block, the repair work on the Junadihi–Laida RD road has remained incomplete for the last three months. This road connects the Laida area to major locations like the district and block headquarters. Since the work stopped midway, people from over a hundred villages who rely on this road are expressing strong dissatisfaction.

Work Stopped After Initial Repairs

The repair work had started from Junadihi square and continued up to the Rengaloi Gram Panchayat office. However, after that point, the contractor stopped all activities. The section from Rengaloi to Laida still remains in a poor condition, with potholes and damaged surfaces making travel difficult.

Allegations Against the Contractor

Although the contractor is responsible for the road’s maintenance for five years, local people allege that he is trying to avoid proper repair work. They claim he applied only a thin layer of materials to make it look repaired, and tried to raise the full bill despite leaving the job unfinished.

Repeated Complaints, No Action Yet

Local residents have repeatedly urged departmental officers to resume and complete the repair work. However, no visible progress has been made so far.

Department Responds, Contractor Promises Completion

When asked about the issue, SDO Kulamani Kisan from the Rural Development Department stated that they have already warned the contractor to resume work. The contractor has reportedly promised to restart the work within 15 days and complete it soon.

The people of the affected villages are still waiting for the road to be fully repaired. Until then, their daily travel remains a struggle, and they continue to hope the authorities will ensure the contractor keeps his promise.