Hyderabad: Temporary iron pillars have been erected at Chilkalguda Circle to move Hyderabad Metro Rail’s Oliphant Steel Bridge. The bridge, which has been assembled near Secunderabad Railway station, must cross the Bhoiguda Rotary to reach Oliphant.
The total length of the bridge is 200 meters. It will be launched at a height of 60 feet. The bridge was assembled in an open ground provided by the railways. It is now slowly being lifted and pushed using a nosing grinder. It is supported by rollers to control its direction and movement. The bridge will be pushed across the railway tracks, and the iron pillars will be removed only after it is properly locked into position.
Officers of the Hyderabad Metro Rail say that the bridge is being moved very slowly. Officials from the Southern Central Railways are supervising the works. It is for the first time that a bridge is being moved on a railway corridor; bridges are normally moved over rivers or valleys, where there is no traffic. For this reason, it is important that safety checks be carried out regularly, as there is always a lot of traffic at the Secunderabad Junction.
Officers say that the bridge will be locked into place within the next three to four months.
