Delays Continue For Bridge Works On Godavari River

Kothagudem: Due to the repeated floods, the Godavari witnessed, the construction of a second bridge on the river at Bhadrachalam is going at a slow pace.

Since the bridge works commenced, the Godavari recorded floods thrice. Also, the technical problems are causing a delay with the engineers not organized with the design of the pillar depth and length prior to the inception of the bridge works.

With a requirement of 36 pillars, the construction has been completed for the pillars, however, the engineers detected flaws in two pillars after completion resulting in the demolition of those pillars. Later, the other works remained incomplete.

On the Bhadrachalam town side, track bed works have to be laid on seven pillars. With the sand depth in the river being high, the base of the pillars needs to be constructed below the sand bed of the river.

Owing to the non-completion of the second bridge on the Godavari, the people of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chattisgarh are facing difficulties with thousands of vehicles from these states commuting on the bridge every day.

This route is also preferred by people of Sukma and Bijapur in Chattisgarh and Malkangiri in Odisha to reach Hyderabad.

Thousands of lorries carrying material and machines from the mines in Chattisgarh also travel the route every day. With only one bridge in working condition, the traffic at Sarapaka and Bhadrachalam witness several interruptions during the busy hours.

The second bridge was sanctioned by the Central government in this connection and the project worth Rs 90 crore was inaugurated on April 1, 2015. Even after five years, the bridge is yet to be completed.

With a company from North India bagging the contract and bridge works under the scope of the National Highways department, the state government holds no role in the construction works of the bridge.

As per the estimation, the bridge works are to be completed before July 15 before the floods once again hit the river.

Also Read: PM Modi Inaugurates India’s longest Railroad Bridge In Assam