Title - Historical road-cum-rail bridge in poor condition

Rajahmundry: The historical road-cum-rail bridge connecting East and West Godavari districts is once again in the news for wrong reasons. Cracks are appearing in the crocodile joints of the bridge and a huge hole has formed at one joint. The hole has become so huge that one can see the moving train below. Traffic on the bridge was affected and the officials were not allowing heavy vehicles onto the bridge. Trucks and RTC vehicles were being diverted to the Barrage.

The road on the road-cum-rail bridge has been the subject of concern since long. The road on the bridge was designed with crocodile joints to withstand the vibrations from the railway track when the trains pass through the bridge. But, the condition of the road was deteriorating over the last several years. Repairs were taken up many times on the road, but to no avail.

Two years ago, repairs were taken up at 65 crocodile joints with micro-concreting technology with Rs 20 lakh. Even this technology has failed to improve the condition of the road as vibrations were denting the road. Now, the Roads and Buildings engineers have called engineering experts to examine the road-cum-rail bridge.

The bridge was designed with crocodile joints as it a steel construction and vibrations are common on the steel bridge. The road bridge was damaged due to the negligence of the officials. Repair works have been taken up as ‘eyewash’ whenever there was a problem.

Neither the government nor the officials ever tried to bring permanent solution for the problem. Travelling on the road-cum-rail bridge has become a nightmare for commuters. Lighting on this bridge has been always the subject of concern and many accidents had taken place on the bridge due to poor lighting.

Lack of application of the local people’s representatives was said to be the main reason for this pathetic condition. The government was not taking any permanent step to improve the road citing the new road bridge which was coming up on the Godavari.

But, the fourth bridge will be open to the public in March 2013. Till then, it is the government’s responsibility to keep the road-cum-rail bridge in good condition, which is the second largest of its kind in Asia, people said.