People risk their lives as bridge works lag

Chennur (Mancherial): People either side of Telangana-Maharashtra border brave putting their lives at risk to cross Pranahita river by motorised country boats as the work on 900-meter long inter-State bridge across the river that connects Arjunagutta (Rapanpalle panchayat) under Kotapally mandal and Sironcha in Gadchiroli district continues to progress at a snail’s pace.

It was in 2012, the Central government proposed a bridge across Pranahita in a bid to address the growing needs of transportation between the two States. Later the Centre accorded administrative sanctions for the release of Rs 105 crore.

Thereafter, lull prevailed for a few years. Finally, the works were grounded in 2016. However, according to sources, the works are not progressing as one would have desired. As of now, the construction of piers is completed. With Pranahita receiving good inflows, construction works have come to a grinding halt.

Albeit it is dangerous, the mode of transportation the locals use is country-made boats to cross the river. If not, they have to make a detour through Godavarikhani and Kaleshwaram to reach Maharashtra side in Gadchiroli district. The bridge will reduce the distance taken to travel to Sironcha by road by 120 km for the locals.

The bridge is essential considering the socio-economic relations - from business to matrimonial links - between the Telangana and Maharashtra, especially Gadchiroli district. People living in Gadchiroli district heavily depend on Chennur and its district headquarters Mancherial for their business needs.

The country-made boat operators, who ferry the people across the river, charge anywhere around Rs 50, resort to overloading. Safety measures such as wearing life jackets are something that they never heard of.

Speaking to The Hans India, National Highways Executive Engineer S Ramakrishna said: “Although the Centre is providing funds for the construction of the bridge, its progress is overseen by the Maharashtra government.”  “To escape long distance travel, we cross the river in the diesel-run country boats.

It’s a treacherous half-an-hour journey especially when Pranahita is in full flow. With river receiving copious inflows, it takes at least another four to five months to resume the bridge works. We have to wait for another year,” G Ravikiran Reddy, a businessman of Chennur said. “It’s learnt that the slow pace of the construction of the bridge is due to a rift between the contractors,” P Naresh, a resident of Sironcha, said.