Three governments fail to complete Rs 35 crore bridge in 15 years
A 700-metre road-cum-rail bridge connecting Ghatkesar and Keesara remains unfinished despite the railway component being completed a decade ago.
A 700-metre road-cum-rail bridge intended to connect Ghatkesar and Keesara near Hyderabad has remained incomplete for 15 years, according to The Hindu. The project, which was designed to reduce traffic jams caused by railway gate closures, has forced residents to take a four-km detour to reach destinations only 50 metres away.
The project dates back to 2012, when the then Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy laid the foundation stone following a 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.
Local resident Sara Srinivas Goud said the unfinished bridge has effectively split the town into two parts. The project's original Y-shaped design was reportedly altered into an L-shaped structure due to political considerations.
The delay has been attributed to administrative apathy, political differences, land acquisition disputes, funding constraints, and alleged contractor negligence. Local resident Rapolu Venkateshwarlu noted that work delays and compensation issues have affected the project since its inception.
An all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC) has led several protests, 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.