Oliphanta Bridge Closed For Vehicular Traffic

Hyderabad: One of the major entry points to Secunderabad, the Oliphant bridge, will be closed for vehicular traffic from Monday.

According to a notification issued by city police commissioner Mahender Reddy, the Road Under Bridge (RUB) will be closed for a period of 15 days beginning Monday due to the ongoing Metro rail works. A crucial link in the LB Nagar-Miyapur corridor of the Metro rail, the Oliphant bridge, will have a new addition in the form of a steel bridge. The steel bridge of the Metro rail will be brought into place right above the railway lines that are entering Secunderabad railway station.

The 200-meter iron and steel bridge of the Metro rail was entirely assembled on railway land close to the Chikalguda Rotary and moved into place over the Oliphant bridge using special equipment. It will the first time-ever that a steel bridge is being moved into place over running rail traffic.

The new steel bridge will connect the Metro line on both sides of the Oliphant bridge. Sources indicate that it is perhaps due to the placement of the steel bridge that the Oliphant bridge is being closed for 15 days, which is the longest in the bridge's history. On earlier occasions, the Oliphant bridge was closed only for a couple of days to undertake road repairs and plug the water leakages to the undercarriage of the bridge.

Traffic Diversions:

The city police has issued notification for traffic diversions effective Sunday midnight at places in and around the Oliphant Bridge.

RTC Buses: The state transport buses arriving from Musheerabad and Padmarao Nagar routes will terminate at Chikalguda. Those heading for Begumpet will proceed through Chilkalguda rotary and take left at Alugadda Baavi to enter Rail Nilayam road and reach Sangeet Crossroads. Similarly , buses arriving from Begumpet and heading for Musheerabad have to take left at Sangeet Crossroads and take the Rail Nilayam road before taking right at Alugadda Baavi.

Rail Passengers: Train passengers arriving from Musheerabad, Mettuguda and Sitaphalmandi will have to take the Bhoiguda entrance for Secunderabad station and enter Platform 10.

Vehicular Traffic: Sangeet Crossroads will prove to be a major changeover junction for traffic arriving from Begumpet, Paradise and RP road and heading for Musheerabad. Also, due to the closure of Oliphant Bridge all vehicular traffic will be diverted to Rail Nilayam road, Allugadda Baavi and then a right turn towards Chilkalguda rotary before heading for Musheerabad or Padmarao Nagar.