New Bridge to Be Constructed Over Kolab River Near Patraput

Jeypore, 1st Nov 2025:  A new bridge will soon be constructed over the Kolab River near Patraput. After the previous tender was cancelled, a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared and approved with a budget of ₹21.21 crore. An official communication confirming the approval arrived today. Once the new tender process is completed, construction work will begin, informed Gaurang Majhi, Executive Engineer of the National Highways Division.

The existing iron bridge, built 94 years ago, has become unsafe and dilapidated, prompting repeated public demands for a new structure. Several local organizations had warned of protests if immediate action was not taken.

The Kolab River bridge near Patraput in Dangarchhi Panchayat lies on National Highway 356, which connects Ranchi to Vijayawada via Lamptaput, passing through Andhra Pradesh, Malkangiri, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. The iron bridge was originally constructed during the British era in 1931. Thousands of heavy vehicles cross it daily, and over time, the bridge has become severely weakened.

Several iron angles have been stolen, and parts of the brick road surface are damaged and full of potholes. Initially, the bridge was under the Public Works Department (PWD), but in 2016–17, it was transferred to the National Highways Department.

Due to its unsafe condition, the department initiated steps three years ago to build a new bridge on the western side of the river. A budget estimate of ₹24.33 crore was made, and after two failed tenders, the third tender was awarded to Brijesh Agrawal, a contractor from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, for ₹18.7 crore. A contract was signed on 11 November 2022, but the contractor failed to start work despite repeated notices, leading the department to terminate the contract.

Following persistent demands from local groups to restart the project, a new DPR was prepared by a private agency, estimating a revised cost of ₹22.84 crore, which was sent to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi, for approval. After review, the ministry approved ₹21.21 crore for the construction of the new bridge.

Whether the new DPR follows the old design or includes a revised design will be confirmed once the detailed report is received, said department officials.