Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur

Puttur, Oct 5: The long-pending proposal to construct a 3.63-km tunnel at Shiradi Ghat, a crucial link between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, has regained momentum after former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda voiced fresh support for the project, rekindling hopes for its revival.

The ambitious tunnel project, first proposed decades ago, remained stalled due to environmental concerns and uncertainty over funding. However, Deve Gowda’s recent remarks expressing strong interest in the initiative have renewed public and political attention.

Earlier, a detailed project report (DPR) was prepared based on studies conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), which received in-principle approval from the Centre. The original blueprint envisioned six tunnels spanning 12.60 km, ten bridges covering 1.5 km, and an 8.58-metre-wide emergency lane to ensure two-way traffic flow and safety during emergencies.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had earlier indicated that the project would receive special clearance if a comprehensive DPR was finalized. Despite this assurance, the project was shelved, leaving the treacherous Shiradi Ghat stretch prone to frequent landslides and accidents, often disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters.

Deve Gowda has now stated that the project will not harm the environment and stressed its necessity for regional development. He further assured that he would discuss the matter with the Prime Minister to push for its implementation.

During a previous inspection of the Shiradi Ghat works, Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi had also expressed optimism, saying the project could materialize if both the state and central governments joined hands.

The renewed push for the Shiradi tunnel project has reignited hopes among travellers and the coastal community, who have long sought a safer and faster route connecting the port city of Mangaluru with the state capital, Bengaluru.