KARIMNAGAR, APRIL 29, 2023: The cable-stayed bridge constructed across river Manair in Karimnagar town is again in the news for damaged roads forcing the officials to take up the repairs of the road on Monday.
The then BRS Ministers had proclaimed the cable-stayed bridge as an ‘icon’ of Karimnagar town, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 224 crore and inaugurated it in June 2023 by creating much hype. They also organised weekly cultural programmes blocking the national highway.
But within few months of its inauguration, the approach road leading to the bridge caved in various locations and the protection walls also damaged following the rains in the town in the month of July 2023. Later, the authorities stated that the cracks on the approach road after the rains were due to natural compaction. They said that it would take a season for the newly laid road to settle down.
Again the roads on the bridge were badly damaged in the month of October 2023 due to poor quality works. After media reports, the authorities removed old BT road and laid new one. Even this is not laid properly and damaged due to movement of heavy vehicles. Now, again the R&B officials have taken up the repairs of the damaged road and laying new BT road.
Rythu Ikya Vedika district president M Venkat Reddy, who had approached the National Green Tribunal against the execution of the cable-stayed bridge and Manair river front without securing the environmental clearances, said that the cable-stayed bridge was constructed with environmental clearances. Flaying the authorities for the poor quality road works, he said that even before the completion of one-year after the inauguration of the bridge, the road on the bridge was laid on four occasions at the cost of state exchequer.
