Bridge Controversy Erupts in Ballia: Minister Rebukes Engineer

Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh criticized a PWD engineer for opening a bridge in Ballia without his knowledge. Singh suggested political meddling by the BSP Rasra MLA. The minister highlighted previous refusals citing lack of testing, expressing concerns over PWD's credibility and the engineer's authority.

Controversy has erupted in Ballia as Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh reprimanded a Public Works Department engineer for prematurely opening a bridge in his constituency without prior notification. Singh, the Ballia Nagar MLA, discovered this development during a midnight visit to the bridge built over the Kathar Nala.

Although he refrained from naming any individuals, the minister seemingly implied that the engineer might have been acting under the influence of the Bahujan Samaj Party's Rasra MLA, Umashankar Singh. During his visit, Minister Singh questioned the engineer's motives, speculating about potential electoral ambitions.

The minister later disclosed to reporters that the engineer had previously cited incomplete formal testing and administrative approval to argue against the bridge's opening. However, the sudden inauguration allegedly orchestrated under 'outside influence' raised concerns. Minister Singh plans to report this to higher authorities while reflecting on the PWD's troubled credibility since 2015.

(With inputs from agencies.)