Survey Afoot for New Bridge across Godavari.

Fulfiling a long cherished dream of Bhadrachalam division as well as Odisha and Chhatisgarh people, a second bridge is going to be built across Godavari at Bhadrachalam. According to officials, a detailed survey is underway for the construction of second bridge to reduce the traffic load on the existing one.

The announcement of the second bridge has come at the right time as the existing bridge has developed cracks at some places and is not wide enough, causing traffic congestion on either ends of the bridge. The present bridge is part of the National Highway 221(NH NO 30) connecting Vijayawada and Jagadalpur. It is vital road link on the inter-state border with Odisha and Chhattisgarh. After repeated requests from politicians and locals, including support from the media, NH officials sent a proposal to the Centre for construction of second bridge under Left wing extremism scheme. But the Union government sanctioned it under the regular funds allotment plan and released Rs. 80 crores.

Navateja Construction Company has bagged the tender for the construction of the bridge.

NH Executive engineer J Chandra Sekar Rao said that the work will begin once the Centre gives nod to the survey report along with the complete estimate from the company.

He mentioned that the new bridge which will be built adjacent to the old one and will be 1200 meters long and 7 meters wide. A 2 meters wide foot paths on either sides of the new bridge is a significant addition, he added. K Raghava Rao, a senior citizen of the town said the existing bridge, which was inagurated in 1964 by Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, has became too old to bear the increased traffic. It was built after the death of 300 people who drowned while crossing the Godavari in a country boat, he added.

S Narayana from Kunta of Chhattisgarh said since there is only bridge that connects several villages in Chhattisgarh and Odisha he welcomes the government's decision to construct a second. He urged the government to complete it as early as possible and ease the burden on the current one.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS