Andhra Pradesh - Ongole   

Overbridge by December-end, says Ongole MP

Special Correspondent

Exhorts officials to work in coordination

ONGOLE: Ongole MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy on Wednesday said that the railway overbridge near the railway station here would be completed by December-end to ease movement of traffic towards Kothapatnam.

Addressing a review meeting with officials of the Railway, Roads and Buildings and Revenue departments, he exhorted them to work in coordination in this regard. He said that he had been drawing flak for delay in completion of the bridge.

Railway officials told him that they had made all arrangements to complete the bridge by March this year. But the accident that occurred while launching girders in January delayed its completion. As the contractor refused to complete the project at the assigned cost, they had to call for tenders afresh to complete it.

Tender were finalised on August 17 at an estimated cost of Rs. 72 lakhs and the contractor had agreed to complete the bridge in three months.

Inquiry report

To a question, they said that they were awaiting the inquiry report on the accident to initiate action against the first contractor. They would have to recover the cost of damages to railway track and overhead traction amounting to Rs. 4 lakhs and Rs. 8 lakhs towards cost of girders. They would also recover the cost escalation of Rs. 36 lakhs from him. As one worker died in the accident, the contractor had to pay compensation to the family of the victim.

Mr. Sreenivasulu Reddy also asked Revenue officials to acquire land required for service roads after paying compensation.

Railway engineers - Panduranga Rao and Gyani Babu - Revenue Divisional Officer Naga Babu and Executive Engineer, R and B, P. Madhusudana Reddy attended.

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