Bhubaneswar, Oct. 12 -- 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.

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 is just a matter of time if no action is taken.

Repeated discussions have been held in Zilla Parishad meetings t...