RAJAHMUNDRY: The existing condition of road-cum-rail bridge on river Godavari between Rajahmundry and Kovvur is a glaring example of the apathy and negligent attitude of the government. Poor maintenance, dearth of funds and movement of heavy vehicles are the other reasons for the pathetic condition of the Asia’s second longest road-cum-rail bridge.
Travel on the 4-km length of bridge is creating panic among the travelling public.
The Roads and Buildings Department is taking up temporary repairs by spending lakhs of rupees. The bridge has turned into a platform for experimentation for repairs.
Three holes were found on the bridge recently and the Roads and Buildings Department carried out temporary repairs by stopping the movement of heavy vehicles. The holes reappeared in a span of two months and are creating panic to the travelling public.
Due to the lack of proper co-ordination between the South Central Railway (SCR) and the Roads and Buildings Department over repairs to the bridge, it is taking considerable time to fix the problems on the bridge.
At many places, the parapet walls have collapsed and about 600 girders have to be arranged under the joints to support the bridge.
Heaps of garbage accumulated on both sides of the bridge and the footpaths on either side of the bridge have been damaged.
Despite a ban on the movement of heavy vehicles on the bridge in the night time, the traffic police are allowing them in violation of norms.
While the government allots Rs 70,000 per annum for its maintenance, the roads and buildings minister has promised to sanction Rs 2.5 crore for the repairs.
Rajahmundry MP Maganti Murali Mohan has taken the issue to the notice of the Union minster for railways and asked him to visit the bridge.
As the ‘Godavari Pushkarams’ are fast approaching, the people are expressing concern over the condition of the bridge. If the construction of the fourth bridge is not completed before the ‘Pushkarams’, the movement of traffic on the road-cum-rail bridge will become unmanageable.
Rajahmundry Urban MLA Dr Akula Satyanarayana said the issue was taken to the notice of respective ministers and pressure will be mounted on the government for the release of assured funds.