The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commenced work to construct a bowstring Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Katpadi railway station in Vellore on Mangalore-Villupuram Highway (NH-75). The new bridge will be similar to Napier Bridge in Chennai.

Officials of NHAI, which maintains the stretch, said that the new steel bridge will be built adjacent to the existing bowstring bridge near the railway station at a cost of ₹44.64 crore. The existing bridge is a concrete structure that was built more than three decades ago.

“The new bridge will help to ease traffic chaos on the narrow carriageway of Mangalore-Villupuram Highway, especially in Katpadi area. The new steel bridge will be ready by September 2026,” S. Rajkumar, Divisional Engineer (DE), NHAI (Vellore), told The Hindu.

Along with NHAI officials, Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi and members of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inspected the railway station area in Katpadi as part of new bridge work recently. “Traffic between Chittoor bus stand and Katpadi railway station on the stretch moves at snail’s pace during rush hour. The new bridge will ease traffic flow for vehicles, especially ambulances and school buses,” said K. Vanitha, a motorist.

As per a study by the district traffic police, more than 20,000 vehicles use the existing bridge at the railway station every day. Funded under the Annual Plan of 2022-23, the two-lane steel bridge will be jointly built by the Southern Railway and NHAI.

The Southern Railway will do bridge work on the track portion to ensure the smooth flow of rail traffic on the route. Every day, on an average, 260 trains, including express trains, pass through Katpadi railway station, where at least 25,000 commuters board trains. 

NHAI officials said the new bridge will be 90.88 metres long and 12.5 metres wide with 16 pillars. LED streetlights and tiled footpaths with steel hand railings will be provided. Staircases from the bridge to reach the railway station also form part of the work.

NHAI officials said that, unlike the existing concrete bridge, the new structure will be made of steel to ensure cost-effectiveness and a longer shelf life. It can also be built much faster, bringing relief to hundreds of motorists. The approach roads to the new bridge will be 376 metres long and 7.5 metres wide on both sides of the rail line. A retaining wall to a distance of 178 metres will be built to ensure safety of motorists.