Massive protest for completion of Purnapadu-Labesu bridge in Andhra Pradesh on May 26

VIZIANAGARAM: The locals have decided to intensify their protest from May 26 demanding the completion of the long-pending Purnapadu-Labesu bridge over the Nagavali river in Komarada mandal , Parvathipuram Manyam district. Going to schools, hospitals and nearby markets during the rainy season has become a difficult task for many people under Komarada Mandal due to the incomplete bridge.

The works for the Purnapadu-Labesu bridge, which connects over 60 villages to Komarada headquarters in Manyam district, remained incomplete for the past few decades. The works for the construction of the bridge commenced long back and over 15 years over, but the bridge remained incomplete.

The Andhra Pradesh govt had sanctioned the bridge in 2006 at an estimated cost of Rs3.5 crore, but construction stalled due to various reasons. After the division of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the TDP govt, led by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, escalated the bridge estimate to Rs7 crore and restarted the works again when Kurupam MLA Pushpa Srivani undertook a protest in 2016. However, the works came to a halt once again after the completion of around 50 per cent works.

Deploring the inordinate delay in completion of the bridge, locals formed Purnapadu-Labesu Vanthena Sadhana Samiti, have intensified their protests for the bridge.

K Samba Murthy, leader of the Samiti, stated that the successive governments have failed to complete the much-needed bridge. Many tribals have lost their lives while crossing the river, especially during the rainy season. He added that as many as 32 people were killed in a boat mishap in 1996 in the region, he added. Hundreds of people will launch a massive protest in front of the Tehsildar office at Komarada on May 26 demanding for completion of the bridge and the protest will continue till the government complete the bridge, he added.