The recent fury of Cyclone Montha has severely damaged the crucial Paradhi bridge, a key link on the bustling Visakhapatnam–Raipur highway. Consequently, the Police Department has implemented an immediate ban on all heavy vehicle traffic over the bridge.
Adding to the disruption, the cyclone also obliterated the causeway spanning the Vegavati river. This causeway previously offered a direct and convenient route for motorists between Bobbili and Ramabhadrapuram, allowing them to bypass the longer Terlam path.
Authorities are now directing drivers in Bobbili and Ramabhadrapuram to utilize the Terlam route, recognizing the perilous state of the roads and the compromised bridge structure. For now, only lighter vehicles such as APSRTC buses, private cars, and two-wheelers are permitted to cross the Paradhi bridge.
Interestingly, plans to reinforce the bridge were proposed almost seven years ago, with an allocated budget of ₹11 crore. However, these vital strengthening works were never initiated, reportedly due to a lack of contractor interest, who feared potential delays in receiving payments.
This forced diversion is imposing significant burdens on lorry drivers, who now face an additional journey of approximately 40 kilometers. What was once a mere eight-kilometer stretch between Ramabhadrapuram and Bobbili has now become a long, indirect trek. Drivers are urgently appealing to the government to prioritize and expedite the bridge repairs and the reconstruction of the washed-away causeway.