Center nod to build the bridge across River Vasistha

Vijayawada, Oct 20: The Centre has given a nod for construction of a road bridge across Godavari tributary Vasistha while approving the development of state highway No. 216 connecting Sivakodu and Narasapuram as a national highway to benefit people, especially in Godavari districts.

Narasapuram MLA Bandaru Madhava Naidu told media here on Wednesday that the construction of the bridge across Vasishta river has been pending for nearly 60 years and added that though foundation stone was laid for the project, there was no progress in its execution. He said because of the absence of the bridge, nearly 10,000 people are forced every day to cross the river on a punt.

The legislator said he has written a letter to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu seeking his intervention for construction of the road bridge and the development of state highway as a national highway at the earliest.

He said that in response, the CM wrote to the Union minister for road transport and shipping and water resources Nitin Gadkari seeking his intervention. He said that the Union minister expressed concern over the delay in taking up the construction of the bridge and asked the state government to submit details. The CM directed the officials concerned to prepare a report and submit it.

The MLA said that the Detailed Project Report on the proposed road bridge would be prepared in two months after which tenders would be called for execution of the project.