Villagers Struggle Due to Incomplete Bridge
Kanugula stream flows between Bunyadipur and Janampet villages in Srirangapuram mandal. Residents of Venkatapur, Janampet, and Bunyadipur must cross it daily for farming, reaching the national highway, or traveling to nearby towns like Pebbair and Srirangapuram. Farmers in Janampet have about 200 acres of land on the other side of the stream.
During the rainy season, crossing the stream becomes impossible. This forces villagers to take a 12-kilometer detour through Sugur, instead of a direct 2-kilometer route. Transporting workers and carrying harvested crops is also difficult. To solve this issue, the irrigation department planned to build a bridge.
In 2009, the government approved the bridge construction at an estimated cost of ₹1.68 crore. However, elections were announced before work could begin, delaying the project. Funds were sanctioned in 2011, and construction started but progressed very slowly. By 2014, complaints about poor construction quality stopped the work, even though some piers had been partially built. Despite repeated requests from villagers and local leaders, the project did not resume.
In 2018, the quality control department tested the construction and confirmed that the work was substandard. However, no action was taken—neither cancellation of the project nor a new proposal. The contractor who won the tender gave the work to another subcontractor. After some progress, objections were raised, and work stopped again. Even after 12 years, the Janampet bridge remains unfinished, and there is no clarity on how the funds were used.
Investigations revealed that the bridge design was flawed, quality standards were not met, and funds were misused. There are widespread corruption allegations, but officials have not provided clear answers. Although construction stopped due to poor quality, payments were still made, leading to criticism.
When questioned, an irrigation department official said there were no records of bills, measurement books, or other documents related to the bridge. Another official confirmed that payments had been made, and the contractor was issued notices for not finishing the work, but no response was received. To help locals, the previous government sanctioned ₹10 lakh for a temporary bridge last year. However, the approach road was damaged during the rainy season, causing further inconvenience. While people can currently travel, monsoon-related disruptions will continue.
Residents are demanding a full investigation to reveal the truth and hold those responsible accountable. They want the old bridge project to be canceled and a new one to be built. Former sarpanch Venkateshwar Reddy urged the government to prioritize the bridge’s completion, highlighting its importance for farmers. Despite multiple appeals to officials, the work remains unfinished. He called for the district collector to intervene and ensure the project is finally completed.
