Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, June 11: The Bantwal tahsildar Archana Bhat has issued an order temporarily banning vehicular movement on the century-old iron bridge across the Nethravathi river in Panemangaluru due to safety concerns.

The order directs the chief officer of the Bantwal Town Municipality to strictly enforce the restriction.

The bridge, which has been in a dilapidated condition, had earlier developed cracks. Following this, heavy vehicle movement was prohibited by installing iron arches. However, reports indicate that the arches have been damaged and heavy vehicles are now passing through the bridge once again.

Considering the weakened structure of the bridge and the potential risk to public safety, and pending a structural capacity report from the competent department, the tahsildar has invoked Section 68 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to prohibit vehicular movement until further notice.

The tahsildar had previously instructed the municipality to obtain a report on the load-bearing capacity of the bridge. However, the department has failed to submit the report. The recurring movement of heavy vehicles over the unsafe bridge has drawn the attention of higher authorities, prompting this precautionary measure in the interest of public safety.