Bhubaneswar: The State Government has transferred a Superintendent Engineer (SE) in connection with the recent mishap at the Khannagar bridge construction site in Cuttack, where three skilled workers lost their lives. Notably, Asish Kumar Nayak, Superintendent Engineer (SE) Cuttack, Roads and Buildings Division-1, has been transferred and posted as SE, Balangir, NH Division on May 21.
Key Players Untouched
However, experts feel that only a small fry like the SE has been targeted but the key players like the authority engineer M/s Chaitanya, the contractor RKD construction Limited and the Works Department Chief Construction Engineer (CCE) have gone unpunished though it is a Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode project.
Earlier, the Works Minister had announced a probe into the Cuttack bridge mishap, the report of which was to be submitted within 15 days. But though the technical report was yet to be published, the SE was hurriedly transferred.
Experts said the Chief Construction Engineer, who was the supervising authority of the EPC mode work, should have been punished. But surprisingly no action was taken against him but the SE was transferred.
The incident, which occurred during the expansion of the Cuttack Ring Road into a 6-lane standard with a 993-meter 3-lane elevated corridor, has exposed glaring lapses in safety protocols, oversight, and accountability, according to engineering experts.
The project, executed under the EPC mode as part of Odisha’s State Plan, was meant to enhance connectivity and infrastructure in the region. However, what should have been a symbol of progress turned into a grim reminder of negligence.
Unsafe Equipment, Zero Oversight
Experts had said the accident occurred due to a critical mismatch in the equipment used. Two cranes, one with a 2600-tonne capacity and the other with 1500 tonnes, were deployed to lift heavy girders. This disparity caused a lack of synchronization, leading to the collapse that claimed three lives. Engineering experts have labelled this a textbook case of negligence, pointing to violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs) by both the contractor, RKD Construction Private Limited, and the authority engineer, M/s Chaitanya and tasked with supervising the operation.
Probe Promised, Action Missing
The contractor’s blatant disregard for SOPs has come under scrutiny. RKD Construction has a troubling track record, having faced criticism for substandard work on the Khandagiri flyover under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and two bridge projects over the Udanti River in Nuapada district, both under EPC contracts. Despite these failures, the company continues to secure high-value contracts, raising questions about the tendering process and oversight mechanisms.
The role of the authority engineer (M/s Chaitanya) is to ensure that all equipment and processes meet safety standards. However, Chaitanya personnel were reportedly absent during critical operations and failed to inspect the cranes’ compatibility.
Public Outcry, Government Inaction
CCE of Cuttack Division, Trinath Behera, is equally culpable. Regulations mandated regular inspections by the CCE for major projects, yet Behera allegedly never visited the Khannagar site. His failure to oversee the project has prompted demands for his suspension and investigation for dereliction of duty.
But all of them, the authority engineer, the contractor and CCE have been allowed to go scot-free. The Works Minister Prihiviraj Harichandan, new Works Secretary Sanjay Singh and the department authorities have washed off their hands of the shocking incident by transferring a low-level official, which has raised many question marks. odishaconnect.com