Residents of Padukere across the Udyavara rivulet are a happy lot with the opening of the ₹16.91 crore Malpe–Padukere bridge here on Saturday. This was a pending demand of the people of Malpe and Padukere.
Earlier, people had to use a country boat to cross the rivulet. Using the boat during monsoons was risky. Also, the boat service was available only during the day. For any emergency at night, they had to travel about 14 km by road to reach Udupi. They can reach Udupi in five minutes now. The bridge connecting Padukere and Malpe is 800 m long and 5.25 m wide.
Jyoti, an employee at a firm at Malpe Fisheries Harbour, said that she had to travel daily on the boat for work from Padukere. “Travelling by boat was a problem. Now, with the bridge, it will be easier to walk across or catch an autorickshaw,” she said.
Baby Salian, a fisherwoman, said that getting into and out of the boat was a problem for women and senior citizens. The water level increased and decreased owing to the tides. “Now travelling between Malpe and Padukere will be safer,” she said.
Udupi Municipal Council can supply water to Padukere easily now as it has laid pipelines below the bridge. The bridge provides a panoramic view of Udyavara rivulet and Third Stage of Malpe Fisheries Harbour.
Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, inaugurated the bridge on Saturday.
