Gunadala flyover works back on track: Collector

Vijayawada: As part of the efforts to ease traffic problem in the city, Gunadala flyover bridge works will be restored and completed by the State government. On Saturday, Principal Secretary (Transport, Buildings and Roads department) M Krishna Babu along with the District Collector Md Imtiaz, Central MLA Malladi Vishnu and the R and B officials inspected the unfinished flyover works pending for nearly eight years in Gunadala.

During the Congress government, the flyover works were started and halted about eight years ago due to political and administrative reasons. Later, the TDP government had also ignored the Gunadala flyover works.

The Gunadala flyover was designed to connect the Gunadala area with Eluru road. As part of it, three bridges will be built on Eluru canal, Ryves canal and Budameru drain, which pass via Gunadala. Vijayawada-Gudivada railway line also passes via Gunadala area and located near the canals. The R and B department and Railways has reached agreement for the construction of flyover. Railways will construct a small bridge over the track on its land.

The R and B department had started the works about nine years ago at a cost of Rs 37 crore and laid pillars in Budameru drain. When the works were in progress, some local leaders have raised objections on the design of bridge.

Consequently, the works were halted for nearly eight years. The cost of construction now risen to Rs 55 crore from the initial cost of Rs 37 crore. Now, the YSRCP government has decided to restart the works.

During the district collectors' conference held last month, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked the officials to address the traffic problem in Vijayawada city and complete the pending works of flyover bridges as early as possible. Consequently, senior officials inspected the flyover in Gunadala.

Briefing the reporters on the occasion, Krishna Babu said the works of 64 flyover bridges were halted in the State for the past few years. He said the State government would make all efforts to restore the works. Referring to Gunadala flyover bridge, he said 107 families living in Gunadala should be shifted to other place for completion of the bridge.

MLA Malladi Vishnu said the government would complete the pending works of the Gunadala flyover. Collector Imtiaz explained the traffic problem in the city to the Principal Secretary M Krishna Babu.