Two years on, high-level bridge work yet to begin in Kumram Bheem Asifabad

Nearly two years after the foundation stone was laid, construction of a Rs.18 crore high-level bridge near Laggama village in Kumram Bheem Asifabad has not begun, leaving residents of four mandals struggling during monsoon due to flooding and poor connectivity.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Nearly two years after the foundation stone was laid for a proposed high-level bridge across a stream on the busy Vemanapalli–Penchikalpet road near Laggama village in Dahegaon mandal, work on the project is yet to begin, leaving residents of four mandals and neighbouring Gadchiroli district frustrated.

People from Dahegaon, Penchikalpet, Bejjur and Chintalamanepalli mandals continue to face hardship due to the absence of a high-level bridge across the stream, which swells during heavy rains. An existing low-level bridge gets submerged during floods, snapping road connectivity between Dahegaon and the other three mandals and disrupting regular movement.

---

The Vemanapalli–Penchikalpet road is a vital link for residents travelling to several villages in these four mandals, as well as to Vemanapalli, Bheemini, Kannepalli and Nennal mandals. It also connects commuters to Bellampalli and Mancherial towns and to Gadchiroli district for work, education, trade and healthcare needs throughout the year. The route becomes particularly critical during medical emergencies, as families depend on it to transport patients, including pregnant women, to government and private hospitals in Bellampalli and Mancherial.

In 2024, a high-level bridge was sanctioned across the stream near Laggama village in Dahegaon mandal at an estimated cost of Rs.18 crore under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund scheme. Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister D Anasuya, Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Sirpur (T) MLA P Harish Rao laid the foundation stone for the project on October 12, 2024.

“After two decades of waiting, a bridge was built across the Peddavagu stream between Dahegaon and Penchikalpet mandals at Laggama village, fulfilling a long-pending demand. But it gets flooded frequently, and the proposed high-level bridge near it still remains a distant dream,” said Dubbula Janardhan, a resident of Penchikalpet mandal headquarters.

Officials from the Roads and Buildings Department attributed the delay to pending land acquisition around the stream. They said the acquisition process has begun and funds have been released by the Centre. However, some farmers are reportedly reluctant to part with their land due to rising agricultural land prices. Efforts are under way to resolve the issues and commence construction at the earliest, officials added.