Summary
Hanging Bridge at Chekaguda is Odisha's second hanging bridge[3] near Rayagada in Orissa, India over the Nagavali River. The bridge links the town of Rayagada to the villages of Mariguda, Chakaguda etc. The bridge is mainly a medium of communication as well as a tourist attraction.[4] The bridge is open all the year round (subject to weather) and people may cross it without a fee.
Hanging Bridge at Chekaguda, Rayagada | |
|---|---|
 Hanging (Jhula) Bridge at Chekaguda, Rayagada | |
| Coordinates | 19°10′02″N 83°25′51″E / 19.1671096°N 83.4307276°E |
| Carries | pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes |
| Crosses | Nagavali River |
| Locale | Chekaguda village, Rayagada, Odisha,  India |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | simple suspension bridge |
| Material | Rope |
| Total length | 151 metres (495 ft) |
| Height | 30.48 metres (100.0 ft) |
| Load limit | 8 pedestrians |
| Clearance below | 33 metres (108 ft)[1] |
| History | |
| Designer | Girish Bhardwaj |
| Constructed by | Bharat Grama Sethu Pratisthan |
| Construction start | Nov 2011 |
| Construction end | Mar 2012 |
| Construction cost | ₹15 million (US$190,000)[2] |
| Opened | 2012 (current bridge) |
| Location | |
 | |
History edit
Designed by Karnataka-based 'Bharat Grama Sethu Pratisthana' Chief Girish Bhardwaj, the project was entrusted to Odisha Police Housing Corporation[5][6] by the District Administration. The estimated cost of the bridge is ₹1.5 Crore under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for the Maoist-prone areas. Villagers of eight Panchayats had been making a detour via Kolnara, 25 km from the area to reach the nearby town Rayagada.[7][8][9] Three years back the villagers, with the help of SHG made a bamboo bridge to solve the problem of communication. They would now need to travel just 5 km to reach Rayagada.[10]
Features edit
It spans 151 metres (495 ft) and is 30.48 metres (100.0 ft) above the rocks below.[11][12] The area is attractive with natural beauty. The only other bridge is at Dhabaleswar. There is no precedent of this kind of a bridge being constructed by the District Administration in Orissa.[13] The project was taken up in December 2011 and the skilled workers worked overtime to complete it in a record time of just 3 months.
Geography edit
Getting to the place is not difficult. Nearest airport is at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). It is located at Lat 19° 10′ 02″ N and Lon. 83° 25′ 58″ E.
References edit
- ^ "Suspension bridge to be ready soon". The Hindu. 5 Mar 2012.
- ^ Arabinda K Padhee (3 Jan 2012). "Tour Diary of IAS Director" (PDF). odishapanchayat.gov.in/. Government of Odisha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-24.
- ^ ""District Portal of Rayagada district"". Archived from the original on 2015-02-14. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
- ^ "Newodisha"
- ^ "ÖPHWC"
- ^ "2.imimg" Tender Notice
- ^ "Newindianexpress"
- ^ ""Koraputonline"". Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
- ^ "Indiablooms" Archived 2014-12-31 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "thehindu"
- ^ "Odishadiary" Archived 2013-10-10 at the Wayback Machine Odisha's second suspension bridge
- ^ "IBNLIVE"
- ^ "eodisha"
External links edit
- "Official site of Rayagada district" Archived 2015-03-20 at the Wayback Machine
- "NUAODISHA"