Delay in opening the restored bridge forces students to cross the railway line near Katpadi

The delay in opening the restored bridge near Katpadi forces students to cross the track, posing a security threat. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Unnecessary delay in opening the rehabilitated bridge at Ammanankuppam village near Katpadi in Vellore is forcing hundreds of pedestrians, including farmers, traders and students, to cross the track located above the bridge to reach nearby villages and towns every day.

Residents said the restored old bridge will help hundreds of residents in at least 10 nearby farming villages reach major towns like Katpadi, Gudiyatham, Vellore and Ranipet. Currently, residents have to cross the railway line to get to nearby places. “Due to the delay in opening the bridge, residents had to cross the railway track to reach nearby areas for the past few months. School students, office goers, women and senior citizens were the most affected,” resident G. Sudar said.

Officials of the Southern Railway, which carried out the restoration of the bridge built in the 1890s by the British, said restoration work on the bridge had begun for the first time in many years. This was done after a regular field inspection where it was found that the British era structure was weak.

Railway officials said that since the railway line runs above the bridge, the stability of the bridge remains a safety concern. “The restoration work mainly included strengthening of the arch-shaped bridge. Despite the completion of the restoration work, the facility has not been opened to the public due to the rehabilitation of the strengthened part of the bridge. The facility will be opened next week,” a railway official told The Hindu.

Railway officials said the water bridge was originally built to prevent the track from being flooded during the monsoon. The Chennai-Bengaluru railway route has over a hundred such narrow bridges along the Palar River to ensure uninterrupted train service.

Over the years, the bridge has become a key route for residents to commute to nearby villages and towns. The facility was also a lifeline for residents to take the sick to the nearest Taluk Government Hospital in Gudiyatham town.

Residents said the closure of the bridge forced them to take a detour of at least 10 km to reach the railway level crossing (ROB), the nearest railway crossing available, for easy commuting. The reopening of the bridge will end the suffering of the residents of the surrounding villages.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 23:57 IST