Kendrapada: The 40-kilometre-long road from Rajnagar to Talachua, the main passage connecting to Bhitarkanika National Park under Rajnagar block in Kendrapada district, has been eroded, leaving massive potholes and uneven surfaces. The condition of the road, maintained by the roads and building department, has already contributed to accidents and created significant challenges for daily travellers and tourists.The recent heavy and continuous rain has exposed the substandard quality of road repair works executed by the the department nine months back.When contacted, Ratikanta Behera, executive engineer of (R&B) division-I under the works department, Kendrapara, said, “The incessant and heavy rain in the last few days damaged some areas of the road. We will soon invite tenders from the contractors to repair the road. The repair work will be started after the finalisation of the tender.”Around 60,000 people of Keruapala, Rangani, Baghamari, Talachua, Krushnanagar, Dangamala, Khamarasahi, Iswarapur, Ghadiamala, Kandira, Bhitargada, Chandibausamula, Mahulia and Rajnagar gram panchayats depend on this road. “It is a shocking incident for us as the road which was repaired at the cost of Rs 3 crore a few months back has been damaged in the rain that lashed the area in the past couple of weeks,” said Prativa Patra, block chairperson of Rajnagar block.“The road which was repaired just nine months ago confirms the enormity of corruption and inefficiency in the roads and building department. Some contractors in a clear nexus with venal officials looted major chunks of the money by doing substandard road repair work,” said Anusaya Behera, sarpanch of Khamarasahi panchayat.“The condition of roads is so deplorable that it takes hours to go from one village to another. Water stagnation and potholes on the roads are making it tough for motorists to drive in such poor conditions,” said Nandakishor Parida, sarpanch of Krushnanagar panchayat.“Our repeated pleas to the officials have not evoked a response. The problem goes much further than mere inconvenience,” said Sricharana Das, panchayat samiti member of Dangamala panchayat.“It is unfortunate that the authorities have not cared to look into this important road through which hundreds of people, buses, trucks and traders and tourists pass through daily between Rajnagar and Talachua. This is the only road to reach Bhitarkanika National Park by land. We urged the officials to bestow their immediate attention on this and to set right the road in perfect condition so as to ensure speedy travel,” said Pradeep Das, a tour operator of Bhitarkanika.Due to the poor condition of the road, many tourists prefer water routes to reach Bhitarkanika, known as the second-largest mangrove forest in India after Sundarbans, by spending more money, added Das.