Minister for Education and Information Technology Nara Lokesh and Union Minister of State for Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar lay the foundation stone for a railway overbridge at Nidamarru in Mangalagiri, Guntur district, on Wednesday. X/@JaiTDP
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Commuters travelling between Mangalagiri, Amaravati and Tadikonda in Guntur district are set to gain from better connectivity with the construction of a railway overbridge (ROB) at Nidamarru, a long-pending project aimed at easing traffic congestion and reducing travel time.
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education and Information Technology Nara Lokesh, along with Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) laid the foundation stone for the ROB at railway level crossing gate No. 14 on the Mangalagiri-Nidamarru road in the Namburu-Mangalagiri railway section.
The ₹142-crore project is expected to provide a permanent solution to decades of traffic disruption caused by frequent gate closures at the level crossing, through which nearly 60 trains pass every day. The gate remains closed for an average of eight to 10 hours a day, often forcing commuters to wait 10 to 15 minutes during peak hours.
Once completed, the overbridge will let vehicles cross the railway line in about a minute, improving access between Mangalagiri, Amaravati, Tadikonda and nearby villages such as Betapudi, Nidamarru, Kuragallu and Neerukonda.
The four-lane bridge, to be built at a height of 10 metres above the railway line, will have a total length of 767.5 metres and a carriageway width of 15 metres. Service roads, drainage, crash barriers and a central divider will also be provided, taking the overall width to 28 metres.
The project is expected to support future urbanisation and economic growth in the Amaravati region.
Sanctioned last year
The Centre had sanctioned the ROB in March 2025, on a proposal moved by Mr. Pemmasani following a request from Mr. Lokesh. Both Ministers had pursued the project with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State V. Somanna before it was cleared.
The bridge will give the Amaravati administrative region a direct route to the Secretariat, which is now reached mainly by the Tulluru-Mangalagiri road and the Krishna river Karakatta road. It will also ease the crossing for commuters and students travelling to Pedaparimi, Neerukonda, Nidamarru and Tadepalli, and to universities such as SRM and VIT in the area.
Kaza park inaugurated
The ministers also inaugurated the Kaza East Lake Park in Kaza village of Mangalagiri mandal on the occasion.
Developed at a cost of ₹3.3 crore through CSR funding from Cellcon, the park surrounds a 17.18-acre lake and aims to promote environmental conservation and healthier lifestyles.
The project includes a 1.7-km walking track, an open gym, a children’s play area, lighting, landscaping and safety fencing. As many as 12,800 saplings of 42 species have been planted, and the existing lake bund has been strengthened.
The ministers unveiled a commemorative plaque, planted saplings and inspected the facilities. Local leaders, party workers and residents attended.
Published – June 17, 2026 12:10 pm IST
