Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh is known for undulating geographical terrain. The seasonal rivers passing through the district damage the road affecting the movement of vehicles. River Somavathi crosses at KM2/2-2/4 on road from Kadiri-Hindupur road to Nallamada Mandal via Gopepalli. the river used to deposit small boulders and stones thereby damaging the road. The vehicles used to get stranded for hours during the rainy season. Under RIDF XI, a bridge was constructed across the river involving a financial outlay of Rs. 98 lakh. The bridge brought the following socio-economic benefits to the people in the area:
The farmers of the ten villages located in Nallamada Mandal grow mainly rainfed crops such as groundnut and sunflower. They had to transport their produce through this road to the Agricultural Produce Marketing Cooperative Society at Kadiri. Due to the condition of the road, the farmers used to sell their produce to the middlemen. The bridge has helped in transportation of the farm produce and the farmers are able to get competitive prices in the Market Yard at Kadiri.
The public transport facilities to the interior villagers in the Nallamda Mandal were poor. Autos were not able to commute as they had to cross the river bed. After construction of the bridge, the connectivity to 10 villages in the Nallamda Mandal has improved . The number of autos have increased providing employment to the youth of the area. Bus frequency by the State run Transport Corporation has also increased.
The bridge has provided health connectivity to the villages of the mandal as the health care facilities are available in Kadiri. The education facilities have also improved for the village community as the Under Graduate and ;post Graduate Degree Colleges are located at Kadiri. The bridge has helped cut down the traveling time for the devotees visiting Putt apathy Satya Saibaba. The distance has also reduced saving on fuel and travel cost. |
