The Sitannapeta bridge, which is one of the crucial intersections on the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) pilot corridor for plying special buses, is likely to be ready by the end of this month, as the second phase of works began on Sunday with the laying of a slab on the bridge.
The bridge is one of the five bridges that are under construction in the city, and it is “progressing well” and much ahead of other bridges.
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials plan to lay “temporary approaches” with soil so that the bridge could be put to use immediately.
The corporation would lay a proper approach with concrete cement or asphalt concrete after four months, after allowing the soil to settle down completely, officials explain.
They say Commissioner P.S. Pradyumna is keen on completing the bridges that are under construction in the city on time by sticking to the schedule. While works on Sitannapeta bridge and Ramalingeswara bridge are “going as per schedule,” the other bridges on Eluru Canal and Budameru are in “slow progress,” the official admit.
JNNURM project
The VMC took up construction of the Sitannapeta bridge under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.15 croress. The slip of a beam-launcher in July created a flutter.
The incident occurred when the workers were placing the beam-launcher to launch the beams onto the piers.
The launcher did not sit in the exact position and moved towards one side and slipped.
As many as 12 girders – pre-cast girders are being used in the bridge – are required for the bridge, and a major portion of this work is said to have been completed.
As the girders were placed on piers, a major portion of the bridge was completed, and the construction of slab was relatively an easier task; already 20 metres of slab was constructed on the bridge, officials pointed out.
The Sitannapeta bridge and the Madhuranagar bridge are at the fag end of the BRTS road, which passes through Satyanarayanapuram railway track area.
The bridge at Machavaram down would be constructed across Eluru Canal and Budameru drain, while the other one would be constructed across Ryve’s Canal.
The four-lane bridge across Ryve’s Canal would cost Rs. 14.85 crores, and the other one across Budameru drain would cost Rs. 5.1 crores.
