VIJAYAWADA: Soon, the defunct bridges constructed in the city, decades ago by the Britishers across Ryves, Eluru and Bandar canals are going to get a facelift as the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has designed proposals to construct 18 new bridges across the three canals at an estimated cost of Rs 218 crore.
It is known that, Vijayawada has close to 25 bridges across the three canals passing through the city.
Of them, majority are in a bad condition over the years and some of them are on the verge of collapse. For instance, the bridge across Ryves Canal near Alankar Theatre is posing danger to pedestrians reaching railway station from Eluru Road. The footpaths of the bridge have almost collapsed and there are no proper railings as well. However, the VMC has hurriedly took up a few measures and repaired the bridge by constructing footpaths and railings before the commencement of Krishna Pushkaralu. But now, the situation has come to square one and pedestrians are finding it difficult to walk on the bridge as the railings are in a dilapidated condition.
In mid-December, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inspected the city and expressed his dissatisfaction at the VMC and R&B officials for the poor maintenance of bridges passing through the three major canals.
He immediately directed the officials to take up renovation works for the bridges as the State government has planned canal beautification project in the city.
Speaking to Express, Mayor Koneru Sridhar said that in the last two years, the city has been witnessing heavy traffic and majority of heavy vehicles are plying on these bridges which are not in a good condition.
A decision has been taken in the Standing Committee meeting conducted recently to construct 18 new bridges in the city on the three canals.
“Proposals estimated at a cost of Rs 218 crore was sent to the State government seeking immediate release of funds. The works will be commenced by March by inviting tenders,” Sridhar said.