Gadkari Promises Fast-Tracked Construction of Iconic Telangana-AP Bridge

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has pledged to expedite the construction of a double-decker cable-stayed bridge spanning the Krishna River between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, according to an announcement by the Telangana government on Saturday.

The commitment came during a meeting with Telangana Tourism and Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao in New Delhi. Gadkari assured that all procedural requirements would be addressed promptly, with tenders expected to be issued by the end of September.

The Rs 1,082.56 crore bridge, which will connect Somashila in Telangana with Sangameshwar in Andhra Pradesh, has faced delays for two years due to various issues.

During the meeting, Rao discussed the bridge project in detail, highlighting its significance for the Kollapur constituency and broader national highway development projects in the Mahbubnagar district. The bridge is anticipated to boost environmental and temple tourism in the region, provide a safer commuting route, and reduce travel distance between Telangana and Tirupati by 70-80 kilometers, thereby cutting travel time by at least 90 minutes.

The bridge will be situated near the Srisailam reservoir and Nallamala forest, linking the Lalitha Someshwara Temple in Telangana with the Sangameshwar Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Rao also requested Gadkari to consider upgrading the 203.5 km road from Alampur "X" Road (NH-44) to Nalgonda (NH-565) to national highway status.

ET