Delay in opening of restored bridge forces students to cross rail track near Katpadi

The inordinate delay in opening the restored bridge at Ammanankuppam village near Katpadi in Vellore is forcing hundreds of pedestrians, including farmers, traders and students to cross the track, which is located above the bridge, to reach surrounding villages and towns every day.

Residents said that the restored old bridge will help hundreds of residents in at least 10 surrounding farming villages to reach big towns like Katpadi, Gudiyatham, Vellore, and Ranipet. At present, residents have to cross the railway track to go to surrounding places. “Residents have had to cross the railway track to reach nearby areas for the past few months due to the delay in opening of the bridge. School students, office goers, women, and senior citizens were most affected,” said G. Sudar, a resident.

Officials of Southern Railway, which executed the restoration of the bridge that was built during the 1890s by British, said that the restoration work of the bridge was taken up for the first time after many years. It was done after regular field inspection where it was found the British-era structure was weak.

Railway officials said that as the railway track runs above the bridge, the stability of the bridge remained a concern in terms of safety. “Restoration work mainly involved strengthening the arch-shaped bridge. Despite the completion of restoration work, the facility was not opened for public use due to curing of the strengthened portion of the bridge. The facility will be opened in the coming week,” a railway official told The Hindu. 

Railway officials said that originally, the waterway bridge was built prevent inundation of the track during monsoon. The Chennai – Bengaluru rail route has over one hundred such narrow bridges along Palar River to ensure uninterrupted train services.

Over the years, the bridge has become a key route for residents to commute to surrounding villages and towns. The facility was also a lifeline for residents to take sick persons to the nearest Government Taluk Hospital in Gudiyatham town.

Residents said that closure of the bridge has made them take a detour of at least 10 km to reach a rail over bridge (ROB), the nearest railway level crossing available, to commute easily. The re-opening of the bridge will end the ordeal of residents in surrounding villages.