As there are no approach roads built to the portable steel bailey bridge over river Kerlema under Jingiriguda panchayat in Phulbani town area, people are unable to use it. The bridge was inaugurated six months back by the MP Rudra Madhab Roy. The bridge was constructed under the Integrated Action Plan scheme by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency of Balliguda at an estimated cost of Rs 1.7 crore. It is 150 feet in length.    

Roy while opening the bridge for public had assured to complete the approach roads within a short time to solve the communication problem. Work on the roads, however, is yet to take off.    

The area people complained that after inauguration of the bridge, no steps have been taken to connect it with approach roads despite repeated appeals to the authorities concerned. Sources said while construction of the approach road to the bridge over river Tikapata in Dakerbadi panchayat started at a cost of Rs 6 lakh last month, that on river Kerlema has not started.