No solution in sight for bridge at Rayalacheruvu railway gate

Tirupati: The bridge proposals at the busy Rayalacheruvu road level crossing have reached back to square one. The SCR GM Vinod Kumar Yadav has asked TUDA authorities to finalise State government’s stand over the issue. The railway and state government officials are not clear whether they have to take up Railway Over Bridge (ROB) or Railway Under Bridge (RUB).

As it was evident by Thursday’s discussion between SCR GM and TUDA authorities that the proposal was only at the beginning stage and it has to cross many hurdles before it is completed.

The bridge was dire need at the railway gate on Rayalacheruvu road as an estimated 4 lakh vehicles pass through the gate on an average every day while the gate has to opened and closed at least 80 times to facilitate the movement of passenger and goods trains on the track. Commuters have to wait for long time when the gate is closed. Once the gate is closed then it will take nearly 10 minutes to get out of the congested traffic.

With the busy railway line passing through the middle of city, the people were facing an uphill task of moving from one side to the other. The city is rapidly expanding on its southern side as there is no scope to grow further on the northern side with the blocking of Tirumala Hills.

On the other hand, the important offices like TTD, major banks, vegetable market, cinema theatres and other establishments were located on the northern side. Hence, it became inevitable for any person to cross the railway gate at least once or twice a day which was the reason for the manifold increase in vehicular traffic.

In February this year, Tirupati MP V Varaprasad had a review meeting with the Railway authorities over possibilities of constructing a bridge at the railway gate at Rayalacheruvu. The main problem identified at that time was, the proposed ROB has to pass through the Karnala Street to main branch of State Bank of India via GS Mada Street.

Hence, it may not be possible as the ROB will become a hurdle for Vahana Sevas and Rathostavams of Govindaraja Swamy temple at Karnala Street and GS Mada Street. So, instead of ROB, RUB would be a better idea, they suggested. The railway authorities were said to have come to a conclusion to go ahead with an RUB at the level crossing (No.104).

They made an estimate of Rs 4.5 crore for this out of which the MP has promised to contribute Rs 50 lakhs from his MPLADS. Now, after 10 months, the General Manager of South Central Railway made it clear that they were ready to construct the bridge and it was up to the State government to provide road linkage, diverting the drainage to other lines etc.

He also assured to provide his officers to coordinate with TUDA authorities and asked the Secretary of TUDA to take an early decision. One officer, however, commented that unless all stake holders including TUDA, Corporation, TTD, R&B and Railway sit together and deliberate on various pros and cons, it cannot be finalised. As the GM made his stand clear, now it is for TUDA to take initiative and the ball is in their court, he added.

By V Pradeep Kumar