Bridge faces inundation threat

Low lying Rayapatnam bridge and incomplete high level bridge. 

The existing 50- year- old low-lying inter-district bridge on river Godavari between Gudem of Adilabad and Rayapatnam of Karimnagar districts is facing threat of being inundated in the rising backwaters of Sripada Yellampalli irrigation project.

Huge delay in construction of new bridge on Godavari may badly affect the road connectivity between Karimnagar and Adilabad districts if the old low-lying bridge is submerged due to incomplete new high level bridge.

The backwater of Yellampalli irrigation project is increasing gradually as the project was not in operational and not discharging the water to downstream. The  project was not yet inaugurated officially.

The traffic is dense on this route because devotees visit famous Satyanarayana Swamy temple at Gudem who visit Dharmapuri temple. It is said that the pushkara ghats constructed on the Godavari river bed for the Godavari pushkaralu will also be submerged at Gudem if the project backwaters level rises to the maximum in the future.

It was expected that the new high level bridge on Godavari will be completed just before the beginning of the Godavari pushkaralu but in that did not happen.      

Last date for completion of the bridge was extended for thrice but still remains incomplete.

Construction of a bridge with 28 pillars was taken up with the estimated cost of Rs 50 crore and construction work of bridge is going on at snail’s pace.

Actually the construction of new bridge was started in 2010-11 and it should have been completed by 2013. The state government has extended the time till July, 2014 and in vain. However, water is being lifted sometimes at Gudem Lift Irrigation which was inaugurated few months ago.      

During a recent review meeting, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao instructed the officials concerned of the Adilabad to complete the incomplete bridges and roads on war footing to improve road connectivity. 

Chief Minister also asked the roads and buildings minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao and Panchayatraj Minister K. Ramarao to personally inspect the incomplete works of bridges and roads in the Adilabad.

An engineer of Roads and Buildings department said ‘Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who is likely to visit the Adilabad soon may inspect the construction works of new bridge taken up on Godavari at Gudem and may inaugurate the Sripada Yellampalli project.

News is making rounds in the political circles that, possibilities are being explored to take some water to Hyderabad from Yellampalli project instead Pranahitha- Chevella and that is why water is not being discharged to downstream from the Yellampalli project.