Bhubaneswar, Dec. 7 -- A major connectivity boost between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh is on the way, with the Odisha government approving the construction of a 460-metre bridge over the Bansadhara river. The new structure will drastically reduce the travel distance to the Gopinath temple at Lihuri, popularly known as Gupt Brundaban, from nearly 50 kilometres to just about one kilometre once completed.

The Bansadhara river serves as a natural boundary between the two states. For decades, residents near the Gajapati border have been forced to take a long detour due to the absence of a direct crossing. The proposed bridge between Bathaba and Lihuri aims to restore the historic link and enhance cultural, social and economic exchange between th...