Telangana: 700-metre bridge remains incomplete after 15 years
The Rs 35 crore project connecting Ghatkesar and Keesara has forced residents to take a four-km detour.
A 700-metre road-cum-rail bridge intended to connect Ghatkesar and Keesara has remained unfinished for 15 years, according to The Hindu. The project was designed to reduce traffic congestion caused by railway gate closures, but residents must now take a four-km detour to reach areas just 50 metres away.
The project dates back to 2012, when then Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy laid the foundation stone and the government issued the land acquisition notification. While the Railways completed the bridge structure over the tracks nearly a decade ago, the state government's portion of the work has struggled to progress.
The bridge design was reportedly changed from a Y-shaped structure to an L-shaped structure due to political considerations. Local residents, including Rapolu Venkateshwarlu and Kummari Venkateshwarlu, noted that work delays and compensation issues have affected the project.
An all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC) has led several protests against the delay, including a recent bandh. The JAC has warned that they will close the Hyderabad-Warangal highway if the government does not respond to their demands.
The project area, located just outside Hyderabad, has transformed from a village panchayat into part of the city during the 15-year delay. The JAC questioned why three governments and three Chief Ministers have been unable to complete the Rs 35 crore project.