The government is planning to construct a new bridge at Hosmatha on Uppinangady-Kukke Subrahmanya Road to tackle the problem of the existing low-lying bridge submerging frequently in the rainy season.
The submerging of the bridge across the Gundia River cuts off the movement of people between Kukke Subrahmanya and Uppinangady on the Mangalore-Bangalore National Highway.
Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL) will construct the new bridge at Hosmatha, near Kadaba.
S.D. Ashok, Executive Engineer, KRDCL, Mysuru, said the 120-metre bridge would cost Rs. 7.78 crore. A private company, LOF Constructions, has bagged the contract. The contractor and the KRDCL are yet to sign an agreement for the project.
At the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting presided over by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel here on Thursday, the official said that the bridge would be completed by the end of 2015.
Shiradi GhatReferring to upgrading of the Shiradi ghat stretch on Mangalore-Bangalore national highway, an official of the Mangalore division of the National Highways, under State Public Works Department, told the meeting that of the 47-km ghat stretch, the government had permitted upgrade for 13.6 km (from Gulagalale to Heggade) as concrete road at an estimated cost of Rs. 69.9 crore. The contractor for this stretch had been selected. Recently the government had asked to re-submit a proposal — ready with a cost estimate of Rs. 85.28 crore — to concrete another 12.3 km stretch.
Thus 20 km would be left for asphalting. He said that B. Ramanath Rai, Dakshina Kannada in-charge minister, has convened a meeting on November 15 to take a decision on the project.
