Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Jun 11: “Sauharda bridge that connects Kadeshivalaya-Ajilamogaru was my dream project. It becoming a reality has made me glad,” said former minister B Ramanath Rai.

Speaking in a news conference in front of the temple after inspecting bridge works at Kadeshivalaya, he said that he had given the name Sauharda bridge and it is his idea. “Local people had urged for a bridge connecting Kadeshivalaya and Ajilamogaru. Therefore, I had submitted a proposal to the government on the basis of demand. The approval of works and tender process is completed during my term.”

“When I realized the approval is definite, I had made an announcement in 2016 and as it is a bridge of two religions, I named it Sauharda bridge. A list of estimated cost of Rs 31 crore by PWD including the cost of bridge till Gadiyara-Mavinakatte was submitted. It was later given to KRDCL. The approval for bridge was obtained in 2017. Tender process for the bridge costing Rs 19.84 crore was over in 2018.

Work is in progress now and will be completed together in 30 months. The projects set in motion when I was the minister such as Paschimavahini and Bahugrama drinking water project should be useful for people on time. I am always paying attention for it. There were plans for development of Kadeshivalaya Gadiyara road also,” he said.

“The bridge will be 312 meters long and 10.5 meters high. It will cost Rs 19.84 croes. It has 13 pillars, 14 foundations and the road is 7.5 meters wide. The work will be completed in approximately 30 months,” said the engineer.

Zilla panchayat members B Padmashekar Jain, Chandraprakash Shetty, Manjula Mave, block Congress president Baby Kunder, Sudeep Kumar Shetty, taluk panchayat vice president Abbas Ali, Maninalkooru gram panchayat president Geetha, Youth Congress president Prashanth Kulal, Mayilappa Salian, Sampath Kumar Shetty, Ishwar Poojary, KRDCL assistant engineer Manjesh and contractor Raghavan were present.