Bridge to re-establish Hampi-Anegundi link to be ready by March next year
Work on the 487.5-metre bridge was taken up under RIDF at an estimated cost of Rs 32 crore
Ballari: Work on re-establishing the link between Hampi, the erstwhile seat of Vijayanagar empire, with Anegundi, the “cradle of Vijayanagar empire”, is nearing completion and is expected to be thrown open to traffic in March next year.
Construction of the bridge across Tungabhadra River from Bukkasagar in Hosapete taluk in Ballari district to Kadebagilu in Gangavati taluk in Koppal district had been taken up as per suggestions mooted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Construction work of the total 14 pillars and 487.50 meters of roof over these pillars have already been completed and at present, the construction of parapet wall is being undertaken. The construction of roads on both sides is yet to be taken up. The land acquisition for road construction on Bukkasagar side has been completed, but same needs to be completed on the side of Kadebagilu. Public Works Department (PWD) authorities said road construction work would be taken up as soon as the land acquisition process on Kadebagilu side was completed. PWD authorities said the construction of the 487.5-metre long bridge was taken up under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund at an estimated cost of Rs 32 crore and work contract has been awarded to KNR Constructions. The bridge would reduce the distance between Hospet and Gangavathi by 15 to 20 km and is expected to help boost tourism and also the economic growth in Ballari and Koppal district.
Besides providing easy access for tourists to reach Anegundi from Hampi, the bridge will ease the movement of predominant agricultural crops, rice and banana, in and around Gangavathi.Until now, tourists had to be ferried either in a ‘teppa’ (coracle), considered very risky, or had to take a circuitous route to reach Anegundi.
Keeping in view the hurdles in crossing the Tungabhadra, then Mr Veerappa Moily government had decided to construct a modern cable-stayed bridge. The project had reached 80 per cent completion when the UNESCO objected to its construction in 1999 and placed Hampi in the list of ‘World Heritage Sites in Danger’.
The UNESCO had apprehended that the modern bridge would affect the skyline of the natural landscape and also turn out to be an eyesore.
It also apprehended that the bridge would pave way for movement of heavy vehicular traffic that would threaten ancient monuments.
The organisation had suggested that the government could consider building a bridge further downstream.
However, after persuasion and assurance by the State and Union governments to initiate corrective measures for the proper management of the world heritage site, the UNESCO withdrew Hampi from the list and also gave its green signal to complete the bridge. But unfortunately, when the work of laying the girders was underway, the bridge collapsed in January 2009 causing the death of eight people.