Site of 1-km iconic cable bridge inspected at Somasila; tourism boost anticipated

NAGARKURNOOL

The proposed site of the iconic cable bridge across the Krishna River at picturesque Somasila in Kollapur constituency was inspected by District Collector Badawat Santosh on Tuesday. The bridge, which will connect Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, is being considered a key component of the National Highway 167 expansion project.

During the inspection, the Collector accompanied by officials from the Revenue, Forest and National Highways departments reviewed issues related to land acquisition, forest clearances, administrative permissions and project logistics. Officials briefed him on the preparatory steps required before the execution of the project under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) mode.

The planned 1,077-metre hybrid cable bridge is expected to significantly improve connectivity between the two states. Once completed, it will reduce the travel distance by nearly 90 km for commuters heading toward Nandyal and Tirupati, who currently need to travel via Kurnool, from Hyderabad.

The Central government, which granted final approval to the project in July 2023, has earmarked ₹816.10 crore for the construction of the bridge. In addition, the site will be developed as a tourism destination, with the government allocating an additional ₹500 crore for tourism-related infrastructure.

Officials said the Ministry of Road Transport and National Highways will finalise the bids for the project soon, adding that sketches, models and structural designs have already been prepared by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Tourism boost

The bridge is expected to significantly enhance the tourism potential of Somasila, which is already known for the Sangameswara Swamy Temple. The ancient riverside shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva, stands at the confluence of the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers and is an important pilgrimage site where devotees perform rituals and special prayers. Officials believe that the improved connectivity and additional tourism facilities will transform the area into a major spiritual and recreational hub.