BELLARY: The United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has given its green signal to take up completion of the controversial two-way cable-stayed modern bridge across the Tungabhadra at the Hampi World Heritage site, linking Hampi and Anegundi, also known as the "Cradle of the Vijayanagar Empire".

Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of Hampi World Heritage Site Management Authority Arvind Srivastav said that a communication in writing has been received from UNESCO in this regard.

However, UNESCO has asked the Indian authorities to consider reducing the height of the pylons used for the cable-stayed bridge if possible, besides conducting stress tests of the cables.

Mr. Srivastav said he has asked the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department to look into these matters and submit a report, based on which the authority will give its nod to go ahead with the construction works.

The construction of the bridge near Talwarghatta is among the major issues objected to by the UNESCO.

The UNESCO placed Hampi in the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger and threatened to withdraw the status if steps were not taken to preserve the heritage value of the site.

By then around 70 per cent of the work on the bridge had been completed and laying the girders in the middle portion was pending.

The State Government had already spent over Rs. 4 crores in this regard, Mr. Srivastav said.

Clearance

After lot of persuasion and negotiations, the UNESCO team, which visited the place, agreed to give its clearance for the completion of the bridge on the condition that a bypass road is laid and movement of heavy vehicles is restricted inside the world heritage site.

However, the team said this was only a temporary solution and ultimately the bridge had to be constructed at a different location.

Accordingly, the State Government initiated steps and adhered to the conditions laid down by the UNESCO.

Cladding of the bridges on the newly constructed bypass road was done and notification banning the movement of heavy vehicles on the bypass road was also issued.

Iron barriers have also been erected to prevent movement of heavy vehicular traffic, Mr. Srivastav said.

People are hopeful that the commencement of work for completion of the bridge will be taken up soon.

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