The road leading to Jinkapalem eroded near Edurumondi of Nagayalanka mandal.
| Photo Credit: G.N. RAO
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan assured the people living in island villages of Nagayalanka mandal in Krishna district that the State government is committed to constructing a bridge between Edurumondi and Etimogga villages.
During a review meeting on Wednesday (November 5, 2025), Mr. Pawan Kalyan announced that Etimogga–Edurumondi High-Level Bridge, a three-decade demand of the villagers, would be constructed soon. He added that the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has already sanctioned ₹109 crore for the bridge project.
Due to Coastal Regulatory Zone norms, the expenses have risen by ₹60 crore. The additional funds would be arranged through the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale (SASCI) scheme, Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad said. “A proposal would be sent to the Centre for the fund requirement, and works can be expected to begin next year,” Mr. Buddha Prasad added.
The Hindu had published an article, titled ‘Andhra Pradesh’s island villages struggle to make ends meet’, on October 17 highlighting the problems faced by the villagers due to damaged roads and absence of a bridge connecting Etimogga, a mainland village, and Edurumondi, an island village. Edurumondi is an entry point to nine other villages falling on three islands. These are surrounded by branches of Krishna river on three sides and the Bay of Bengal on the other.
Regarding damaged roads in these villages, Mr. Kalyan said that the Panchayat Raj Department has allocated ₹13.88 crore for construction of the Edurumondi–Gollamanda road. The tender process for these works has been completed. The Deputy CM directed officials to enquire about the delay in the completion of the Nachagunta road, the construction of which was stalled because a part of it falls in the forest area.
Responding to the development, Chennu Venkateswara Rao, a villager in Edurumondi, said, “We have faith in the TDP-led NDA government and are hopeful that the project would be completed soon since Mr. Pawan Kalyan has assured us.”
He added that during cyclone Montha, the villagers were holed up in their homes for five days because they were advised against crossing the river on a boat. “But we could not stay still at our home, too. We are surrounded by water on all sides and spent five days in fear, without electricity and without any connection to the mainland,” he said, hoping that the bridge would be in place before a natural calamity strikes again.
Published – November 06, 2025 11:32 pm IST
