Godavari bridge will become Asia’s largest

Rajahmundry, Oct. 7: The largest road bridge in Asia will soon come up across Godavari River, stretching about 15 km and connecting Kovvur with Rajahmundry. The four-lane bridge, to be built by spending Rs 800 crore, would have a four km stretch across the water body with a 2 km approach road on the Kovvur side and a 9 km approach road on the Konthamur stretch. It would get connected to the National Highway No. 5 through Diwancheruvu and would facilitate transport of passengers and goods up to Kolkata. The carriageway on the bridge will be nearly 14 metres. Gamini India would be taking up the construction of the bridge under the BOT system and aims to complete it in three years The Centre has agreed to bear 20 per cent of the total cost of the project.  At present, the roads and buildings department is in the process of acquiring land for construction of approach roads. In Rajahmundry division, the department is trying to acquire about 146 acres falling in Katheru, Kolamuru and Palacharla villages.  The department has already deposited Rs 18 crore with the revenue department for land acquisition and the latter is confident of completing the process by December. Similarly, about 18 acres is also being acquired in Kovvur by spending Rs 2 crore. Once the road bridge is completed, it will shorten the distance between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam by nearly 40 kilometres.  "As the Centre is proposing to develop the four-lane national highways into six-lane ones, there will be an increased volume of vehicular traffic," said Mr P. Ramesh Babu, executive engineer (special division) of the roads and buildings department.  read