Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government's Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, in a letter, has asked all district collectors and Chief Development Officers-cum-Executive Officers (CDO-cum-EOs) of Zilla Parishads to immediately identify unsafe and structurally vulnerable bridges and culverts and submit proposals for their repair and maintenance on a priority basis.

The department said the move is aimed at ensuring public safety and maintaining uninterrupted road connectivity for people living in rural areas, particularly during the ongoing monsoon season. 

The department has invited district-wise proposals for the repair and maintenance of bridges and culverts falling under their respective jurisdictions so that funding can be considered for the works.

The letter states that it is imperative to identify unsafe structures at the earliest and undertake timely repair and maintenance to prevent accidents and ensure smooth transportation in rural areas.

Officials have been instructed to prepare proposals only after conducting field inspections and technical assessments of the structures. The government has also directed that the proposals should reflect actual on-ground requirements.

According to the communication, priority should be given to bridges and culverts that are structurally distressed, heavily deteriorated, unsafe for public use, or those that serve critical public infrastructure and require immediate intervention.