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Bhubaneswar: Cracks have developed on the iconic Atharanala bridge over Musa river at Odisha’s Puri town.
The stone-made structure was built by Ganga dynasty king Bhanu Dev in the 13th century to facilitate road communication to the holy town. Prior to the construction of the bridge, devotees were facing a lot of problems to cross the river and reach Jagannath temple, researchers said.
The bridge, located at the entrance of Puri town, has 18 passages.
“Cracks have appeared on the walls of passage number 6 and 8 of the protected monument. Besides, the retaining wall of the bridge is in a dilapidated condition. Due to poor upkeep, shrubs have grown on the walls of the bridge, causing further damage to the historic structure,” said a local.
The bridge had been closed for vehicular traffic some years ago as the state government constructed two alternative bridges over Musa river. The administration had carried out beautification work at Atharanala during the Nabakalebara ritual of Lord Jagannath in 2015 by spending around Rs 5 crore.
The authorities had constructed concrete chairs, lighting facility and other beautification work near the bridge as part of the project. However, these facilities have been damaged due to poor maintenance, alleged the locals.
“We will examine Atharanala thoroughly and take appropriate action for its preservation,” said ASI superintendent DB Gadanayak.
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