Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (RD)

Beltangady, Oct 24: Driving vehicles through the picturesque Charmady Ghat section of state highway, which links the coastal district with the Malnad regions across the range of Western Ghat, has become indeed tedious these days. The steep hairpin curves of Charmady Ghat have always posed challenge even to the most experienced drivers.  But eversince Shirady Ghat was closed for heavy vehicles a few days ago, buses and other vehicles plying to Bangalore are using Charmady route.

Owing to this increased traffic, the road on the Ghat is almost on the verge of disappearing.  Traffic jam has become a common phenomenon on this route of late. Bullet tankers, containers and buses form a majority of vehicles plying on this road these days.  But owing to bad road, accidents, mishaps and traffic jam have become a routine.  Buses plying between Bangalore and Mangalore take almost 12 hours to reach their destination.

But as of now, there seems to be no solution whatsoever to this problem.  Till the repairing works of Shirady Ghat are over and the road is thrown open for plying of heavy vehicles, Charmady Ghat might just become like Shirady Ghat, said a local who owns a shop at Nidgal near Charmady.