In the Union Budget 2023-24, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways proposed Rs 500 crore for the construction of a cable-stayed suspension bridge across the river Krishna between Somasila in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district and Sangameswaram in Nandyal district in Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema region. The project’s total estimated cost is Rs 1,082.56 crore. Once started, the project would take about 30 months to complete.
The demands for grants report released by the Union government recently showed that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed Rs 6,612.44 crore in the 2023-24 budget for the construction of roads and bridges in Telangana, and Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the construction of the cable bridge over river Krishna.
The Telangana government pursued the project under the Bharatmala Pariyojana project for a long time before the Centre approved it. Last year, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ standing finance committee approved a two-story cable bridge with a four-lane carriageway across the Krishna river.
The proposed Somasila-Siddeswaram bridge would reduce the distance and travel time between Telangana and the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The road distance between Kollapur in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district and Atmakur in Andhra Pradesh’s Nandyal district is approximately 175 km, and once completed, those travelling from Hyderabad to Kadapa, Chittoor, and Tirupati would not have to take a detour through Kurnool.
According to State Roads and Buildings officials, once completed and operational, the iconic bridge will cut the distance between Hyderabad and the popular temple town of Tirupati by 80 km. The bridge was expected to attract tourists due to its picturesque location on the Srisailam reservoir backwaters in the Nallamala range, in addition to shortening distances.
The bridge would include the longest glass pedestrian walkway across a river, temple gopuram-like pylons, signature lighting, and a large navigational span. The bridge is set in beautiful surroundings, with the sprawling Srisailam reservoir surrounded by Nallamala forests and high mountains, according to officials.
Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the then-chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh, had promised to build the bridge and had sanctioned Rs 50 crore, but the project was halted due to the 2009 elections. After Andhra Pradesh was divided and Telangana was formed in 2014, the Telangana government approved the bridge plan and sanctioned Rs 190 crore, urging the Andhra Pradesh government to release their portion of funds, but it remained on paper.
Project Cost: Rs 1,082.56 crore
Budget Allocation: Rs 500 crore
Project Duration: 30 months
Distance Reduction: 80 km
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