Alternative roads to bear the brunt of Shiradi closure in Mangalore

Officials in the Public Works Department (PWD) fear the deterioration of other roads when traffic from Shiradi Ghat will be diverted.

Officials in the Public Works Department (PWD) fear the deterioration of other roads when traffic from Shiradi Ghat will be diverted.

The Shiradi Ghat Road will be closed for repairs by the Dakshina Kannada district administration between December 2014 and May 2015.

Mani-Sampaje-Madikeri Road via Sampaje Ghat, Belthangady-Mudigere-Chikmagalur Road via Charmadi Ghat, Hebri-Agumbe-Thirthalli Road via Agumbe Ghat, Halady-Hosangadi-Mastikatte Road via Hulikal/Balebare Ghat and Honnavar-Bangalore Road via Gerusoppa Ghat have been identified as alternative roads.

Upgrading in progress

While the 71-km stretch of Mani-Sampaje Road has recently been upgraded, a 10-km stretch of the road is still in the intermediate-lane condition (5.5 mt wide), which would be widened by January 31, according to an official of the Karnataka Road Development Corporation (KRDCL) that is overseeing the upgrading work. Though the road was designed to cater to 5,000 passenger car units (PCU) per day, the road is already taking about 14,000 PCUs, he said.

The Shiradi Ghat road currently takes around 27,000 PCUs per day.

Not NH standards

On the other hand, the Charmadi Ghat Road, though declared as a national highway, had not been reconstructed as per NH standards, revealed a PWD official. Only the top layer has been strengthened and widened without strengthening the foundation. The PCU on this stretch is about 11,400 and movement of more vehicles was certain to affect the condition of the road, the official said.

Residents of Belthangady and surrounding areas, who are already affected by traffic congestion between Guruvayanakere and Ujire, are apprehensive of the movement of additional vehicles.

Similarly, the Balebare Ghat, the foundation of which has not been strengthened to take additional load.

The road is predominantly used for movement of petroleum products to Shimoga region besides other goods, and buses.

The district administration has tentatively decided to divert heavy vehicles — multi-axle including bullet LPG tankers — via Sampaje (towards Mysore) and via Bangalore-Honnavar Road; buses and ordinary trucks via Charmadi and Balebare Ghats, and light vehicles via Agumbe Ghat.