Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 12: District in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, on Thursday August 11, inaugurated the hanging bridge that has been newly built across River Falguni. The bridge connects Muttur in Mangaluru taluk with Badagabellur in Bantwal taluk.

Rai said that with the dedicating of this bridge to the world, this area has opened itself up for tourism as it has good potential in this segment. He felt that there is a need to create extra facilities for tourists in the region by the tourism department.

This happens to be the 127th hanging bridge built by Sullia-based engineer, Girish Bharadwaj. Girish said that subject to timely maintenance, this hanging bridge will have a life of 100 years.

Boatman becomes jobless

Strangely, the new bridge also cast clouds of uncertainty in the life of one person. K Abubakker, a local boatman, who was transporting people across the river for the last 30 years, is worried at the prospects of losing his earning. He says that he is the only earning member of his family, as his son, a graduate, has not found any employment so far, and the source of income from the daily commuters has dried up with the inauguration of the hanging bridge.

MLA, Mohiuddin Bava, presided over the function. Chairman of Coastal Development Authority, Nivedit Alva, zilla panchayat member, Janardana Gowda, zilla panchayat president, Meenakshi Shantigodu, and presidents of both Badagabellur and Muttur gram panchayats were present.