British-Era iron bridge in Odisha on the brink of collapse, no bypass in sight

Also Read: This 13th-century architectural marvel in Puri is Odisha’s oldest surviving bridge

Known as the Patraput Iron Bridge in Koraput district, it was constructed by the erstwhile British government in 1931, and despite its heritage value, it now stands in a dangerously dilapidated condition.

Also Read: This 13th-century architectural marvel in Puri is Odisha’s oldest surviving bridge

According to sources, the historic bridge, which connects Odisha with Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, handles hundreds of vehicles every day.

Due to a lack of maintenance and mounting pressure from increasing traffic, frequent traffic jams and structural strain have become a daily affair.

Many locals claim the bridge appears to be “groaning under pressure”, warning that a major accident