RAJAHMUNDRY: The State government has sanctioned `30 cr to the district authorities to effect repairs to the road on the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage (SACB) at Dowleswaram, and take up other works after dilly-dallying over it for a decade, according to sources in the Irritation Department.
Disclosing this to Express here on Friday, they added that the pot-holed road on the barrage was in such a bad condition that it had led to many accidents in the recent past.
They explained that the barrage-top road was the only alternative route to enter into West Godavari district from here if the road-cum-rail bridge was closed due to any reason.
The sources said that the state government seemed to have finally acted on the repeated reminders from the Irrigation Department and representatives of the people about the need for its repairs as it expected heavy traffic movement on the barrage during the forthcoming ‘Godavari Maha Pushakaralu’ (GMP).
They explained that the length of the barrage-top road between Dowleswaram and Vijjeswaram (in West Godavari district) was 7 km. As part of the other repair works, 10 per cent of the electrical works on the barrage had been completed and the Irrigation Department would take steps to complete 50 per cent of these works by the end of June -- a month ahead of the GMP, they added.
As many as 95 electric boards would be installed in 175 electric panels in the four arms such as Dowleswaram, Bobbarlanka, Maddur and Vijjeswaram, they said and added that the entire electrical works would be completed by August.
The sources said that at present sound blasting works were under progress as part of the painting works on the barrage. Also, the rubber seals, rollers, etc., would be changed on the crest gates, they added.
They further said that the Irrigation Department was planning to use the milling system to strengthen the road on the barrage at a cost of `60 lakh. A new layer would be laid on the road after removing the old layer, they said and added that tenders would be finalised before March so that the works could commence in April.
Along with barrage repair works, the Cotton Guest House, the Cotton Museum, etc., would also be developed as part of the GMP works, they said and added that the government had sanctioned `47 lakh for the purpose.
The sources said that all the GMP-related works would be completed by the end of June.