The railing of already dilapidated bridge was collapsed two years ago, making the drive on the Asif Nagar canal bridge, located between Neerinemila and Lakshmipuram villages of Ramannapet mandal, life-threatening.
According to sources, the bridge was constructed during the Nizam rule on the Asif Nagar canal, an irrigation canal of Musi river, to connect these villages, but the railing on one side of the 15 feet. narrow bridge had completely collapsed. The depth of the canal is said to be 20 feet.
Speaking to The Hindu , the Sarpanch of Lakshmipuram village, Bathula Shankaraiah, said villagers had met the Irrigation and Panchayat Raj officials on many occasions, but both of them excused themselves by claiming that the bridge was not under their jurisdiction.
The Sarpanch added that APSRTC used to operate a bus to their village from Ramannapet, but now the corporation had diverted it from another village as the bridge is narrow.
K. Rakesh, resident of Neerinemila, said that the route through the bridge is shorter to Mothkur mandal from Ramannapet and Valigonda mandals compared to the existing one via Chityal-Narketpally-Nakrekal.
After the damage, many people have chosen the Nakrekal route to reach Mothkur even though it means travelling for 10 km more.
The pilgrim place, Mathsyagiri Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple is also located close to the bridge.
The villagers also claimed that another bridge on the canal at Dubbaka village in Ramannapet mandal, is also in a dilapidated condition.
They appealed to the officials to construct new bridges on the canal immediately.
