Three Years On, Kunaram ROB Still Incomplete, Chokes Traffic
The project, a joint venture of the Central and State governments with an estimated cost of ₹119.5 crore, began in October 2022 with a targeted completion period of two years
KARIMNAGAR: The construction of the crucial Kunaram Railway Over Bridge (ROB) in Peddapalli district has nearly come to a standstill, causing severe traffic congestion, public hardship, and growing political tension.
The ROB is being built over a vital railway line that serves as a key artery connecting Peddapalli with important regional centres such as Odelu, Kalvasrirampur, Sultanabad, Jammikunta, and Warangal. The project, a joint venture of the Central and State governments with an estimated cost of ₹119.5 crore, began in October 2022 with a targeted completion period of two years. However, even after nearly three years, only about 40 per cent of the work has been completed, with construction currently stalled at the pillar stage.
Officials attribute the delay primarily to lapses in financial and managerial oversight, along with inadequate on-site supervision by the concerned authorities. The railway gate near Peddapalli railway station lies on the busy Delhi-Gangtok route and witnesses hundreds of train movements daily. As a result, the gate is closed four to five times every hour, causing frequent traffic disruptions. During engine changes, closures can extend up to an hour, leading to vehicle queues stretching several kilometres.
The absence of effective alternative arrangements has turned the situation into a crisis. Thousands of vehicles use the road daily, carrying lakhs of passengers, and traffic chaos ensues every time the gate reopens. The prolonged and frequent closures have also raised serious safety concerns.
Local residents have expressed alarm, citing instances where people from villages across the railway track allegedly died after failing to reach hospitals in time during medical emergencies due to gate closures. Adding to the problem, the service roads meant to manage traffic during construction have deteriorated badly and are now riddled with potholes, dust, and debris, making travel hazardous.
Beyond easing current congestion, the Kunaram ROB is considered critical for future regional connectivity. The bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel distance between Peddapalli and the erstwhile Warangal district. It also forms a key component of approved infrastructure plans for four-lane roads connecting Peddapalli to Bhupalpally via Mutharam, and to Warangal via Kalvasrirampur and Huzurabad.
Mounting public inconvenience has triggered political backlash. The BJP staged a Rasta Roko at the Kunaram railway gate to highlight the slow pace of work.
BJP Peddapalli town president Panjerla Rakesh criticised the authorities for failing to provide a functional service road and for the sluggish progress of the ROB works. He accused Congress Peddapalli MLA Vijaya Ramana Rao of incompetence despite the release of funds by the Central government, and also blamed former BRS MLA Dasari Manohar Reddy for the delayed start and slow execution of the project. He demanded immediate construction of a proper service road to ensure smooth traffic flow and a sharp acceleration of the ROB works.
Given the project’s regional importance and the acute public suffering, residents and protesting political parties have urged IT minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu and the State government to intervene immediately, strengthen official supervision, and take urgent steps to expedite completion of the railway over bridge.
Caption for Photo-1 of Puli file-1: Construction of the Kunaram Railway Over Bridge (ROB) has nearly stalled, leading to severe traffic congestion and growing political tensions in Peddapalli district.