Rajahmundry, Nov 25th: The new road bridge taken up on river Godavari between Kateru and Kovvur connecting East and West Godavari districts is expected to come into utilization by the first quarter of 2012. The four-lane road bridge for a distance of three kilometers was taken up at a cost of Rs 583 crore under build, operate and transfer scheme and the work was entrusted to the Gamna India limited. The bridge was taken up to meet the changing transport needs and is expected to lessen the burden on the present rail-cum-road bridge which was in utilization since 1973. 

Te new bridge works taken up about six months ago are expected to be completed by the end of 2011. The R&B authorities are expecting the works to be completed under the stipulated time as the work progress has come to pillars level within six months of starting the work. The road bridge is expected to cater to the needs of heavy to very heavy vehicles besides other transport and passenger vehicles. The East Godavari R&B department superintendenting engineer, Mr. B. Swamy expressed satisfaction over the progress of work. He said that the approach roads on either side would also be completed in time.