Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga

Shivamogga, Jun 12: The Shivamogga district administration has banned the movement of heavy vehicles, including trucks carrying jelly stones and goods, on the Agumbe Ghat stretch of National Highway 169A from June 15 until the end of the monsoon season.

Deputy commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti issued the order citing safety concerns arising from increased traffic on the ghat road following a landslide on the Hulikal Ghat route, which connects Shivamogga to Kundapur and Udupi via Hosanagara and Mastikatte.

As temporary restoration works on the Hulikal Ghat stretch are yet to be completed, heavy vehicular traffic has been diverted to the Agumbe Ghat section of the Thirthahalli–Malpe–Udupi road. Authorities fear that continued movement of heavy vehicles could trigger roadside landslides, lead to accidents and cause inconvenience to the public.

The administration noted that Agumbe Ghat serves as a crucial link for residents of Shivamogga, Davanagere, Chitradurga and Haveri districts travelling to Manipal, Udupi and Mangaluru for medical treatment and other essential purposes. Any disruption to connectivity would severely affect people from these districts.

As per the order, vehicles travelling from Thirthahalli towards Udupi must use the alternative routes via Thirthahalli–Nagara–Nagodi–Kollur–Kundapur–Udupi or Thirthahalli–Sringeri–Kerekatte–Bajagoli–Karkala–Udupi.

Similarly, vehicles travelling from Udupi towards Thirthahalli have been directed to use the routes Udupi–Kundapur–Kollur–Nagodi–Nagara–Thirthahalli or Karkala–Bajagoli–Kerekatte–Sringeri–Thirthahalli.