Audit Of Srisailam Bridge Begins Amid Safety Concerns
Officials estimate that repairs may cost around ₹70 crore, while proposals for construction of a new bridge have been pending for the past 3–4 years.: Reports
KURNOOL: Concerns are being raised over safety of the half-a-century-old road bridge near the Srisailam Reservoir, which serves as a crucial inter-state link between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Following reports that the bridge is vibrating severely when heavy vehicles pass over it, officials from the Roads & Buildings (R&B) department and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) carried out a detailed inspection of the bridge’s structure over the weekend.
Engineering experts carried out load tests to assess the bridge’s current condition and determine whether it is safe for vehicular traffic and up to what load. As part of it, a tipper truck travelled across the bridge with varying loads, while a team made recordings of the resulting structural responses.
Authorities used a special crane to enable experts to record vibration data of the surface under the bridge. The data has been sent for scientific analysis to assess the current load-bearing capacity and assess risks of a possible structural failure.
The bridge, constructed in 1972, is part of the National Highway 765 between Telangana and AP along Hyderabad, Kalwakurthy, Srisailam, Dornala and Tokapalle. The bridge is 530 metres long and vital for transportation between the two Telugu states.
The bridge had been designed to last 50 years with regular maintenance. The bridge has already surpassed this lifespan by over three years. It remains in use but there are visible signs of deterioration. Portions of the bridge’s railings have been damaged. Temporary retaining walls have been constructed at some locations to prevent accidents. Cracks have developed on the footpaths on either side, making them unsafe for pedestrians.
Observations from beneath the bridge show that concrete has peeled in multiple areas.
Officials estimate that repairs may cost around ₹70 crore, while proposals for construction of a new bridge have been pending for the past 3–4 years. No decision has been taken despite the bridge’s strategic importance and worsening structural issues.
As a precautionary measure, the R&B and NHAI are also collecting structural and load-bearing data from other key bridges in the region to evaluate their condition and assess the need for urgent repairs.
A senior R&B official in Kurnool said the report of the Srisailam bridge’s inspection is expected within a week. “Based on the findings, we will decide whether to undertake immediate repairs or escalate the proposal for a new bridge to the government,” the official disclosed.
