Traffic movement on the 132-km stretch between Raichur in Karnataka and Jadcherla in Telangana on National Highway (NH) 167, a major speedway that connects Hyderabad with major cities in North Karnataka including Raichur, will be disrupted for 40 days starting next Tuesday, as the old bridge over Krishna river, near Shakti Nagar in Raichur taluk, will be taken up for repair.
Towards reducing public inconvenience, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suggested two alternative routes - one via Gadwal, Pebbair, Kothakota, Boothpur Chowrastha and Jadcherla and the other via Nandini, Jurala Reservoir, Atmakur and Mahbubnagar. However, both these routes will add around 29 km to the commute. Those travelling between Raichur and Kalaburagi will have to commute via Deodurg.
According to NHAI authorities, the renovation and strengthening of the 75-year-old Krishna bridge involves re-pointing and grouting all the 35 pillars, jacketing 10 pillars and coating the entire bridge with 7.5 cm cement concrete. Rebuild Structures that bagged the Rs. 4.87-crore project is expected to finish the work and open the highway by the end of July 2016.
“All the work except laying cement concrete is over. We need 20 days for laying concrete and another 20 days for curing. By July 30, the bridge will be ready for public use,” K.P. Mahadevaiah, Assistant Executive Engineer, Hosapete Division, NHAI, told The Hindu .
“At present, the Telangana government is operating 46 buses between Hyderabad and Raichur whereas Karnataka is operating 42 buses including seven from Raichur division of NEKRTC. Passengers will have to pay Rs. 27 extra for 40 days as the buses will be taking longer routes due to the renovation work,” said V.H. Santosh Kumar, Divisional Controller, NEKRTC.
New bridge
As part of its plans to strengthen and widen NH-167, NHAI is planning to abandon this old bridge and build a new one next to it. The cost of the 14-metre wide and 760-metre long four-lane bridge is estimated to be around Rs. 145 crore, excluding the development of approach areas on either end of the bridge that requires additional lands to be acquired by farmers. Sources said the detailed project report would be submitted within a month. Once approved and funds released, the construction can be completed within one year.
The legacy
The existing huge bridge over the Krishna near Shakti Nagar was built in the memory of the travel of Nawab Javvadjaha Bahadur, the prince of Hyderabad, to Raichur in the early 20th century. The bridge was named after the prince as Sirat-e-joodi.
The construction of the bridge began in 1933 and was completed in 1943. The bridge has 35 arches that are divided into five parts. Each part has five arches. Each arch is 90-ft. wide. The bridge is 2,488-ft. long, 20-ft. wide and 60-ft. high from the riverbed.
The Nizam government had spent Rs. 13,28,500. Mohmad Hamed Mirja had worked as chief engineer. Mesarus Sabri Yusuf and Farhatullah had supervised the work till it was completed. Balaram Contractors had built the bridge. The bridge was a major link between South and North India at that time of its construction.
