Moosarambagh bridge to open before monsoon
HYDERABAD: The Moosarambagh high-level bridge in Hyderabad is nearing completion, with around 70 per cent of the work finished. Officials plan to open it before the monsoon and expect it to be ready by the end of June.
The government is constructing the bridge at a cost of about ₹52 crore. It will be 220 metres long and 20 metres wide, with six lanes. Footpaths of 3.5 metres width are being built on both sides. Authorities plan to open three lanes initially to resume traffic.
Flood disruptions prompt new construction
The old low-level causeway at Moosarambagh frequently disrupted traffic during heavy rains and floods in the Musi river. Water often flowed over the bridge, forcing authorities to stop movement during the monsoon.
The proposal for a new bridge first came up after floods in 2020 during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi government.
Old bridge declared unsafe
Heavy rains last year again led to flooding over the bridge, halting traffic. The government then appointed engineering experts to assess its condition. The inspection found the structure had weakened, with pillars and joints damaged due to repeated floods, making it unsafe.
The old bridge was demolished in October, and construction of the new one began. For the past eight months, commuters have been using alternative routes.
Traffic relief expected
With construction progressing quickly, the new bridge is expected to open next month. This will reduce traffic problems for commuters travelling via Moosarambagh to areas such as Amberpet and Dilsukhnagar.
Earlier, the issue of a new bridge also arose whenever floodwaters were released from Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs. In July 2023, ministers had announced that work would begin within 10 days after closing the bridge. Though tenders were completed, construction did not start at that time.
