Minister inaugurates ₹26-crore bridge at Navalpur in Ranipet
Officials of National Highways wing of State Highways, who carried out the work along with Southern Railway, said that the entire work was completed in June this year. However, the new bridge was kept closed for official inauguration by the Centre as the project was entirely funded by the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
To end the ordeal of motorists of taking a detour to reach the town, the residents demanded its opening as early as possible for public use. 'The new bridge will end a detour of at least 5-6 kms to reach Ranipet town from surrounding villages to reach hospitals and government offices. Ambulances can reach the needy on time, using the new facility,' said R. Parvathi, a resident.
Minister for Textiles and Handlooms, R. Gandhi, who is also Ranipet MLA, inaugurated the bridge by taking a stroll on the new facility along with residents, social activists, elected representatives and officials of State Highways.
Originally given its nod in 2019, the bridge is jointly done by the Southern Railway and State Highways. The two-lane bridge is 921 metres long and 12 metres wide with at least 50 LED street lights on the bridge and its service lanes. Tiled footpaths with steel hand railings also provided. Staircases from the bridge to reach the railway station at Navalpur are available.
Highways officials said that the railway track portion of the work including concrete decks and pillars were done by the railways to ensure train services on the route are not affected. Ramp of the bridge and approach roads were built by State Highways.
Adequate land to lay service lanes have also been acquired. Restrictions during the pandemic (COVID-19) was a major reason for delay in completion of the bridge work. Residents said that most schools, colleges, bus stands, government offices and banks are located on one side of the rail line whereas residential colonies were located on opposite sides of the track. Prior to the opening of the new bridge, motorists travel to Chennai - Bengaluru Highway (NH 48) to reach Ranipet town due to bridge work.
With the opening of the bridge, residents seek resumption of all buses including long distance ones to use the new bridge to reach Ranipet town.
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