· Delayed NH 340C construction in Nallamala Ghat between Atmakur and Dornala creates problems.
· Officials are currently laying the road between Kurnool and Atmakur in the plain area.
Kurnool:Though the officials are widening the road between Kurnool and Dornala for hassle-free commute, there have been no immediate steps taken to improve the road between Atmakur and Dornala, which faces challenges in the crucial forest section due to the ghat terrain and limited communication connectivity. Recent rainfall in the Nallamala area has severely damaged the road between Atmakur and Dornala. Of the 40 km stretch, approximately 10-15 km of the ghat road has been damaged by the rains and falling boulders. Stones tumbling from the cliffs are obstructing vehicular movement and causing severe difficulties for commuters.
Typically, travelers from Kurnool heading to Guntur and Vijayawada use the Atmakur-Dornala route. About 40 km of this 78 km stretch runs through the Nallamala Ghat, a critical passage through dense forests and hilly terrain. This route is also crucial for devotees traveling to Srisailam, who take a diversion at Dornala. This route is heavily used by buses, trucks, cars and other vehicles. However, the poor conditions have caused significant hardship for commuters. Some portions of the road have been damaged by recent rains. Water cascading from the hills has washed away a few sections of the road, large trees fell on it at some points and stones from the cliffs fell on the road. Although authorities have cleared some obstructions, the situation remains precarious.
On the Nallamala Ghat road, vehicles frequently come to a halt due to minor accidents and the absence of mobile signal coverage exacerbates the issue. When it rains heavily, this problem intensifies as information about incidents deep within the forest does not reach the police promptly, leaving travelers in distress.
Plans have been made to widen the National Highway 340C from Kurnool to Dornala over a 124-km stretch, with work currently underway from Gargeyapuram in Kurnool to Pinnapuram in Atmakur Mandal, covering 73 kilometers. A four-lane road has been proposed. Currently, the road is being widened from the Nannuru toll plaza close to Kurnool on the national highway to Atmakur. However, commuters argue that prioritising improvements in the Nallamala Ghat section would have ensured hassle-free travel rather than focusing solely on the plain area between Kurnool and Atmakur.
While police officials claim they are implementing strict measures to clear traffic in case of accidents in the ghat section, there are numerous instances where commuters face difficulties due to poor communication connectivity and the lack of immediate assistance. Further, an official from the National Highways Authority of India said that they strictly follow the directives of their higher-ups and do not set their own priorities.
