A high-level vented bridge constructed across the sluice connecting the Nellore Cheruvu tank with the Penna river was formally inaugurated on Friday, bringing to an end a four-decade wait for the long-pending project.

SPSR Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla inaugurated the bridge in the presence of Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy and TDP State spokesperson Kotamreddy Giridhar Reddy.

The absence of an elevated bridge had been a major problem for travellers from four Assembly constituencies, particularly during the rainy season. Whenever water was released from the tank into the Penna river, the road was inundated, making it difficult and risky for motorcycles and four-wheelers to pass through.

People from the Nellore Rural, Kovur, Atmakur and Udayagiri constituencies travelling towards Nellore city had faced considerable hardship during such periods. The State government constructed the bridge at a cost of ₹6.54 crore.

“Inauguration of this Pottepalem bridge has brought me the highest level of satisfaction that I have never experienced as an MLA during the last 12 years,” Mr. Sridhar Reddy said.

He thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Ministers Nara Lokesh, P. Narayana and Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy and MLC Beedha Ravichandra for helping him secure ₹966 crore for various development works in the Nellore Rural constituency.

Mr. Shukla recalled witnessing the plight of travellers on the road when water was released into the river and said such a situation would now be a thing of the past.