Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 16: It is reliably learnt that the officials and various departments and Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner have decided to reopen national highway between the city and Bengaluru, which is presently blocked at Shiradi stretch for undertaking repairs and renovation work there, on June 1.

Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, A B Ibrahim, speaking to reporters at Subrahmanya on Wednesday April 15, confirmed that works on the first phase of ghat section would come to an end by May 31, and that the road will be reopened on June 1. He added that the road will be opened as soon as the work on first phase is concluded.

The first phase of road works covering 13 km between Heggadde to Kempuhole will be completed by May 15. About two more weeks will be required to prepare the entire stretch for smooth movement of vehicles. Therefore, the road can be expected to be opened for vehicular traffic from June 1, said executive engineer in National Highways department, Nataraj. He also said that two participants have evinced interest in the second phase of work for which rebidding had been ordered, and that work order will be issued once the same is approved by the central government.

Once the Shiradi ghat road is opened, the department will have to conduct repairs at Charmadi ghat road on a war footing, where several drains had been closed to widen the road to enable the road to handle increased traffic caused by diverted vehicles. If this is not done, the road may suffer heavily during monsoon season, it is felt.

As per the government's estimate, the repaired stretch of the highway at Shiradi will withstand traffic for the next 30 years.