Vedvyas in Odisha’s Rourkela to have hanging bridge soon

Reported by Malay Ray
Rourkela, Mar 22:

The famous Shaivaite site of Vedvyas on the outskirts of Odisha’s Steel City of Rourkela is all set to be connected to the mainland through a hanging bridge.

The hanging bridge, to be constructed on the lines of the one at Dhabaleswar pitha, another famous Shaivite centre on the outskirts of Cuttack city, will be constructed at a cost of Rs 8 crores, Union Tribal Affairs minister Jual Oram announced here today.

On Saturday, Oram and Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray went around Vedvyas before the announcement was made.

“It has been a long-standing public demand. The Rural Development department of the state government, which had executed the Dhabaleswar hanging bridge project, recently conducted a survey of Vedvyas,” said Dilip Ray.

“As per the preliminary estimate made by them, Rs. 8 crores for this project has been sanctioned by Union tribal affair minister,” Ray added.

As of now, pilgrims and tourists have to take a detour to reach the scenic spiritual place at the confluence of three rivers: Brahmani, Koel and Sankha. The hanging bridge, therefore, is expected to give a huge fillip to tourist inflow to the holy place.

Since visitors need to cross the old Brahmani bridge, a busy place at any given time, locals have been demanding the construction of a hanging bridge over the river, which would be easier for the residents of the city to reach the temple by just walking down on it.

Legend has it that Maharshi Vyas Dev had scripted Mahabharat in a cave located here. Lakhs of devotees visit Vedavyas during Maha Shiva Ratri and Shravan mela every year.