At the location of the bridge, near Rajahmundry, the river flows with a width of about 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi), split in two channels with an island formation in between.

Most of the route had been doubled except the small stretch of track between Kovvur and Rajahmundry where a bridge had to be built to span the three kilometer long Godavari River.

The Andhra Pradesh State Government came forward with the proposal to add a road deck over the rail bridge under construction as a part of doubling the railway track between Chennai-Howrah.

It was constructed with stone masonry and steel girders and certainly a marvel of British engineering.

It was commissioned for passenger traffic in March 1997 and became fully operational for running trains by the Indian Railways from 2003.