Bantwal: DC Bans Heavy Vehicles on Panemangalore Bridge
 
Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (RD)
Pics: Kishore B C Road
 
Bantwal, Jul 4: Deputy commissioner Dr Chennappa Gowda has issued an order banning heavy vehicular traffic on the century old Panemangalore Bridge, as its pillars have weakened due to wear and tear over the years.
 
The DC visited the bridge here on Wednesday July 4, in response to the petitions of the general public.

Addressing the media, Dr Chennappa said that heavy vehicular traffic including trucks and buses have been banned on Panemangalore Bridge.
 
He instructed town council officer R V Jattanna to erect gates on the bridge, restricting the movement of heavy vehicles.

The gates that were erected nearby Kallurti temple in Panemangalore will be razed to allow access to Panemangalore market. Repair works on the bridge will also be initiated. "However, the ban may be revoked after undertaking repairs on the pillars and ensuring that it can withstand the weight of the vehicles for many more years," said the DC.
 
National Highway Authority of India has already entrusted the responsibility of maintaining the bridge to the town council, which in turn has written a letter to the state administration seeking funds to restore the bridge, said town councilor Dinesh Bhandary.
 
Bantwal Urban Development Authority (BUDA) chairman Govind Prabhu, tahsildar Anand Nayak, R V Jattanna were present.