5 villages in need of new bridge across Gontheru

Bhimavaram: People of five villages in Bhimavaram and Palacole rural mandals have been facing serious problem in reaching main road as footbridge on Gontheru drain is too small to tackle the traffic. The main road is located at a distance of 3 km from these villages.

Only two-wheelers and bicycles can travel on this bridge. Over the years, people of these villages have been demanding that the government construct a big bridge across Gontheru drain in place of the present footbridge.

The villagers of Nadapanavaripalem, Veeravallipalem, Jonnalagaruvu, Chintalapudi Garuvu and Rayakuduru have to walk three km distance from their village to reach the Bhimavaram -Palacole route to catch a bus every day.

Though there is an RTC bus service to these villages, it will take eight km for them to reach main road. Moreover, the bus has limited frequency of four trips. There was a footbridge constructed decades ago at Jonnalagaruvu village across Gontheru drain.

The footbridge which was in use, was heavily damaged during flood earlier as the drain bund was breached. As a result of damaged footbridge the villagers have been travelling eight kms to reach the main road to catch their bus.

Bhimavaram MLA Pulaparti Anjaneyulu and former Minister Peethala Sujatha visited this place and inspected the footbridge once last year. They assured to build a bigger bridge across Gontheru river. However, no one took any action about the problem.

The footbridge is of no use for four-wheelers. The villagers submitted representations to the officials as well as public representatives to construct a big bridge for the convenience of commuters and also demanding to run an RTC bus through their villages.