Railway officials raise safety concerns over Duvvada ROB, warn GVMC

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A view of the railway bridge near the Duvvada railway station. | Photo Credit: V RAJU

Railway engineering authorities have issued a warning regarding the safety status of the Road Over Bridge (ROB) connecting the main approach road to platform no. 4 of the Duvvada Railway Station.

In a letter dated September 7, 2026, addressed to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner, South Coast Railway engineering officials highlighted severe structural flaws found during an inspection conducted recently. They said that the decades-old structure exhibits extensive concrete spalling, and wide cracks, with heavily corroded reinforcement bars exposed along the crash barriers on both the sides. Officials warned that the deteriorating deck slab could severely compromise the bridge’s load-carrying capacity if immediate remedial action is not taken.

According to the Railway Board and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) guidelines, the maintenance of the ROB portion outside railway boundaries—including the superstructure, wearing coat, handrails, and drainage—falls under the purview of the GVMC.

The bridge serves as a vital arterial route for thousands of daily commuters travelling from Gajuwaka, Kurmannapalem, Sabbavaram, and Ukkunagaram. It is also heavily used by employees commuting to the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ) and nearby industrial clusters. With roughly 65 regular and special trains halting at the station daily, the continuous flow of heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic multiplies the risks posed by the crumbling structure.

The Duvvada Railway Users Association (DRUA), in a release, has expressed deep concern over the inaction of authorities despite repeated representations.

DRUA Secretary Kanchumurthi Eswar has urged the GVMC and railway engineering officials to conduct an immediate joint inspection and initiate emergency measures.

The association has also demanded that critical repairs, including structural propping of the deck slab soffit (the crumbling underside of the bridge) using high-strength epoxy mortar, anti-corrosive treatment for the exposed steel, reconstruction of the damaged crash barriers, and a complete overhaul of the bridge’s expansion joints and drainage spouts, to avert any untoward incidents.

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