The central government on Thursday approved construction of an iconic cable stayed-cum-suspension bridge across Krishna river connecting Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and passing through the Nallamala forest range.
The decision was announced by union minister for road transport and national highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday evening.
“Bringing Prosperity Through World Class Infrastructure in New India. The iconic cable-stayed-cum-suspension bridge across Krishna river in #AndhraPradesh and #Telangana has been approved by the Central government at the total cost of ₹1,082.56 crore with a construction period of 30 months,” the union minister tweeted.
Describing the bridge as #PragatiKaHighway, Gadkari said the iconic bridge will have several unique features like the longest glass pedestrian walkway across a river, gopuram like pylons, signature lighting and a large navigational span.
Stating that once completed, the bridge across the Krishna river would be second of its kind in the world and first in India, he said.
“The bridge has beautiful surroundings with the sprawling Srisailam reservoir surrounded by Nallamala forests and high mountains with huge tourist potential and… presents an attractive view of Lalitha Someswara Swamy temple on Telangana side and Sangameswaram temple on Andhra Pradesh side,” Gadkari said.
Stating that after its completion, the three-km long bridge will reduce the distance between Hyderabad and Tirupati by 80 km, the union minister said the hybrid structural arrangement in the bridge would give a structural advantage to it and make it economical as well as aesthetically pleasing.
The two-storeyed cable bridge with four-lane carriageway across Krishna river was approved last week by the standing committee on finance for the union ministry of road transport and national highways.
It begins at Somasila at Kollapur in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district and Atmakur in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district.
At present, the people from Telangana are forced to travel for a long distance via Kurnool to reach pilgrim centres like Mahanandi, Ahobilam, Tirupati.
The only other option is to travel by boat across the river from Somasila to reach these places.
River travel remains riskier due to the flow of Krishna river.
A boat capsize incident that took place on this route on January 18, 2007 resulted in the death of nearly 60 people.
Since that incident, people from both sides have been asking for a bridge across the river to reduce the distance.
After constant pursuit by the Telangana government, the Centre finally gave the approval for the project under Bharatmala Pariyojana project, an official in the Telangana government said, adding that the bridge would also give a boost to the tourism in the area.