Rail-over-bridge works at a snail’s pace in Kakinada
Kakinada: The rail-over-bridge (RoB) construction was taken up in 2009 at Kondayapalem railway gate in Kakinada–Samalkot railway line in Kakinada city limits was going on at a snail’s pace even after a decade of laying the foundation stone.
The construction of RoB was designed to suit the changing traffic needs after the NH-216 came into existence along the sea coast from Kathipudi in East Godavari (connecting NH 16 -Chennai- Kolkata Highway) to Ongole in Prakasam district along East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts.
A plaque was unveiled by the then Union HRD Minister and Kakinada MP MM Palalm Raju in 2009 but there is little progress due to obstacles.
As far the railways is concerned, the basic pillar work on either side towards Zilla Parishad on one side and Sarada Devi temple on the other side have been completed five years ago.
The main reason for the delay is due to land acquisition, delay in allocation of funds for the construction of approach roads, delay in paying compensation for those whose sites and buildings were acquired for the RoB.
Kakinada RDO and Sub-Divisional Magistrate L Raghubabu said that the compensation for the land acquisition has been paid as per the land Acquisition Act.
East Godavari district R&B superintending engineer Vijay Kumar said that now all obstacles are cleared for taking up the approach roads. Rs 13.60 core is being spent on the activity.
There was some delay in taking up the activity due to court cases and encroachments in taking up the ROB approach roads. Recently, we settled the issues. Hence, we are hoping to complete the approach roads by December this year”, the superintending engineer clarified.
Photo 1: The pillar works for approach roads under progress from Prakasam street side
Photo [ 2]: Foundation stone was laid in 2009
Photo [3}: Buildings being dismantled for laying the of approach roads at Night Hotel Centre in Prakasam Street, Rama Rao Peta area in Kakinada city.