Andhra Pradesh - Ongole   

ROB positively by end of March: railway officials

Special Correspondent

Allays fears of town development panel over safety Allays fears of town development panel over safety

STOCK-TAKING: Ongole MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy inspecting the railway overbridge under construction near Ongole railway station on Friday.

ONGOLE: Railway officials promised to complete the Rs. 12-crore railway-overbridge (ROB) on Koppole road near Ongole railway station by March-end. They also dispelled the fears of the Ongole town development committee over poor quality of the bridge under construction.

The committee members raised a hue and cry that one of the beams developed cracks even before the slab was laid on it. They also pointed out that the approach road, constructed at a cost of over Rs. 10 crores sank by four inches even before it was thrown open to traffic.

They expressed serious concern over the poor quality and safety of the bridge. Following their representation, Ongole MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy convened a meeting of railway officials here on Friday to clarify their doubts.

Engineer clarifies

Deputy Chief Engineer (Construction) Rama Raju explained that the bridge consisted of three spans weighing 50 tonnes each. The beams are fabricated in situ. He admitted that one of the beams developed cracks as the cribs on which it was mounted could not bear the load and gave in.

The railway officials directed the contractor to abandon the beam. Accordingly the contractor made another beam.

But as the contractor did not remove the cracked beam from the site, the committee members feared that it would be used. The railway officials took the committee members to the site and showed them the alternative beam made in place of the cracked beam. They asserted that no compromise was made on quality.

Roads and Buildings department officials, who constructed the approach roads, clarified that the sinking took place due to consolidation which is a normal process.

They refuted the charge that it was due to poor quality. Mr. Sreenivasulu Reddy agreed with committee members that there was undue delay in the construction of the bridge. Railway officials promised him to complete the bridge by March-end. The Ongole MP also asked R&B officials to provide a staircase and a service road to serve the needs of local residents.

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ROB positively by end of March: railway officials

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