Amidst the high-pitched campaign rhetoric, real issues such as delay in construction of a second bridge across the Godavari in Bhadrachalam and the long-pending demand for Pandurangapuram-Sarapaka railway line in Bhadrachalam Assembly segment of poll-bound Mahabubabad Lok Sabha constituency have once again come under the spotlight.

As the campaign for the April 11 Lok Sabha elections gathered momentum in the tribal-dominated Bhadrachalam segment, the civil society and various other organisations have renewed their demand for speedy completion of development works and addressing drinking water and other issues concerning the common man in the segment.

“The bifurcation blues continue to haunt Bhadrachalam town, which is known as south Ayodhya,” rued Bhadradri Prantha Parirakshana Samithi founder Busireddy Shankar Reddy.

“The assurance given by people at the helm in the State to develop the historic shrine and the temple town at an outlay of ₹100 crore is yet to be implemented,” he pointed out. Though situated on the banks of the Godavari, the temple town is grappling with drinking water shortage, he said, pointing out that the temple town is staring at imminent water crisis in the peak summer season.

The long standing demand of people of Bhadrachalam division for extension of the railway line from Pandurangapuram to Sarapaka has remained unfulfilled till date, he deplored, saying the railway line would help create rail link to Bhadrachalam, which is located near Sarapaka.

A signature campaign is currently underway to mobilise public opinion in support of the Pandurangapuram-Sarapaka railway line, he added. Motorists continue to face traffic woes on the existing old narrow bridge across the Godavari in Bhadrachalam due to the inordinate delay in execution of the works on the proposed second bridge across the river in the temple town, said CPI (M) district secretary Kasani Ilaiah.

The bridge, which forms part of the National Highway 30 (Old NH-221), is a vital road link to the vast Agency areas. People at the helm have failed to address the issues concerning Adivasis mainly the “podu cultivators” and fulfil the assurances pertaining to supply of safe drinking water to every household, among other pre-poll promises, he charged.