Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Dec 3: Both Charmadi Ghat and Shiradi Ghat roads need to be closed for a few months for repairs, as the repair works need to be completed before the commencement of the monsoon season. At present, the work is delayed, waiting for the conclusion of the Vishwa Tulu Sammelan.

The partially completed repair works on Charmadi Ghat section of state highway 64, will be taken up shortly by Singha Engineering Company from Hyderabad. This road is being laid by implementing a technology known as ‘soil anchoring’ as suggested by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Charmadi ghat road needs about two months for the repairs to be completed. However the PWD has asked for this road to be closed only between 7 am and 7 pm, so as to lessen the burden on alternative roads.

In the meantime, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) proposes to concrete several stretches of the 26-kms of the national highway No. 48 between Addahole near Gundia to Heggadde in Sakleshpur and it has already sent the project report entailing an expenditure of Rs 115 crore to the union road transport ministry. As the works will need a minimum of six months to complete and the monsoon will set in the first week of June, the Authority is in a hurry to take up this work.

While the PWD has already approached the district administration to ban movement of vehicles on Charmadi Ghat Road, NHAI is expected to do so soon. The district administration will be in a dilemma about finding out alternative routes for the movement of the vehicles. At present, about 15,000 vehicles move on the Shiradi Ghat Road. Asking these vehicles to change to Madikeri road is not easy, as the Mysore-Mangalore road is in a bad condition, particularly in the ghat section, and already this road has been witnessing heavy traffic. There are suggestions to use the Kudremukh-Mala road as an alternative for the Charmadi ghat Road.

The deputy commissioner plans to take a final decision after convening a meeting of the heads of both the departments shortly.   As the Madikeri ghat section of the Bantwal-Mysore state highway already is experiencing heavy traffic, it would be apt to verify whether this road can take so much more load. Another head ache for the administration is ensuring that the gas supply to Bangalore from here does not get affected, as it can give rise to serious problems.