Expert engineers to visit Sampaje, Shiradi ghats this week

They will study how to restore landslip portions permanently

Restoration work under way at a brisk pace at Madenadu Kartoji on Mangaluru–Madikeri–Mysuru National Highway in Kodagu district.

A team of expert engineers, including those from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bengaluru, will visit Sampaje and Shiradi ghats this week to study how to restore the landslip portions on the two national highways permanently.

An official of the Karnataka Public Works Department told The Hindu that the team would visit the ghats either on October 4 or 5.

Shiradi Ghat, on Mangaluru-Hassan-Bengaluru NH, was opened for light motor vehicles about a month ago. Sampaje Ghat on Mangaluru-Madikeri-Mysuru NH was opened about 10 days ago after temporary restoration works. Sampaje Ghat was the worst hit with about 10 major landslips and other minor ones on about 14 km between Jodupala and Madikeri town.

The temporary restoration works on this particular stretch where some portions of the highway itself have slipped down were going on, on a brisk pace. Workers of the National Highway Division of the PWD were engaged in building a wall of sand bags to prevent any further slip of the highway at Taltamane, Katikeri, II Monnangeri and Madenandu. The KSRTC is now operating its mini buses between Jodupala and Madikeri. It is operating long chassis buses from Mangaluru upto Jodupala and from Mysuru upto Madikeri.

Passengers would have to shift to mini buses at Jodupala and Madikeri. It has re-established the direct connectivity between Mysuru and Mangaluru temporarily.

About a 3 km stretch on the highway between Bhagamandala Cross and Madikeri town has been made a one-way with the police allowing Madikeri-bound traffic from Mangaluru. Mangaluru-bound traffic from Madikeri will have to take a detour of about 3 km to join the Bhagamandala Cross.

P.I. Srividya, Deputy Commissioner, Kodagu, said the stretch had to be opened for light motor vehicles due to connectivity issues. It involved the question of students’ education also. A decision on allowing heavy vehicles would be taken only after the quality wing of the National Highway Division recommended it.

The PWD official, on condition of anonymity, said that with temporary restoration works, the highway would be stable for normal traffic for up to two years. But the stability of restored portions would be in question if overloaded trucks were allowed to ply.