It is not just the Metro Rail project, the Indian Railways or more specifically, the South Central Railway (SCR), too is struggling to complete road over and road under bridges in different parts of the capital region on account of delays in properties acquisition for approach roads, shifting of pipelines of various utilities or due to non-release of funds from the government departments.
Even as it awaits the government’s move on funding some of the big ticket infrastructure projects across the State on a cost-sharing ratio, SCR has sought assistance for completing some of the long pending bridges and vents in some of the busiest traffic routes connecting the core capital region with the suburbs.
Among these are: Bridge between Cherlapally-Ghatkesar where one span over the track was completed, but another span has to be laid on the premises of a private firm and related government governments was requested to pursue the matter. Only a small portion of the approach roads on either side was completed so far.
There is this under bridge on the Yakatpura-Uppuguda stretch too where approach work is yet to begin and the municipal corporation was urged to take up the ramps on either side and also divert the sewer line beneath, explain senior railway officers declining to be identified.
A road under bridge at Ammuguda-Moula Ali (Anand Bagh) is half way under construction with the first vent completed but because of delay in shift of utilities pipelines the work on taking up a second vent has been held up. “If this is not completed fast, the Sanathnagar-Moulali section under the MMTS-Phase Two will be affected,” point out railway engineers.
The Ammuguda-Moula Ali (Vajapainagar) under bridge too is not ready because no government agency is ready to take up approach roads on either side. The stretch between Cavalry Barracks-Malkajgiri (Safilguda ) where a proposed four-lane under bridge was changed to two lane and another four lane under bridge at Uttamnagar is hanging fire over Government clearances.
A proposal for building an additional vent at the Malakpet railway station where the metro rail viaduct will fly above along with an overhead station amid heavy duty traffic below is stillborn as the municipal corporation has to deposit money.
Another ₹29.10 crore bridge was to come up at the Lallaguda railway station, a major bottleneck when the gates are closed for trains to pass, but there has been no progress even after the details were shared with the local body though the Government has in principle accepted the proposals.
“We are discussing with the Government on expediting the works, as once completed these will ease traffic movement,” say senior railway officials.