Mangalore: Fate of Sultan Battery-Tannirbavi footbridge 'hangs' in balance


Mangalore: Fate of Sultan Battery-Tannirbavi footbridge 'hangs' in balance

Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Jul 31: Various projects get initiated in a grand manner in our district, but as time passes, there seems to have been a long delay in completion due to various reasons. The four-laning of highways and concreting of city roads are a few of these.

The new project that has been started recently and is going on at a snail's pace is the construction of the hanging footbridge across Sultan Battery to Tannirbavi. At present, the road that connects the area is a roundabout one and consumes time. Another means of transport here is the ferry service that is maintained by the Boloor Mogaveera Sabha.

The former government had passed the proposal to construct a hanging bridge, mainly to boost tourism in the region and to help the residents of the region.

The project has been handed over to Yojaka (India) Pvt Ltd (shipping, marine, mechanical, civil, and dredging contractors). The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 12 crore. The construction work on this bridge was started last December, 2012, while plying work was begun in February, 2013. The bridge is supposed to be completed in December 2013, if everything goes as  expected.

The whole of the bridge will stand with the support of 8 metal ropes of 52 mm each, held by two main strong pylon pillars (one on either side) and 8 ramp pillars (four on each side). The total distance from the water level to the bottom of the bridge is approximately 11 meters. The total distance of the hanging bridge is 410 meters of which the main span (above the water) will be nearly 250 meters and the rest will be above the ground. The width is to be 3 meters.

The important thing to be considered here is that even after this being such a wonderful project, the total percentage of work completed as of now is just 10 percent. It is quite obvious that there must be some problem behind the delay in construction.

At present, there is a major problem that the construction company has been facing which is lack of funds.

Speaking to Daijiworld, P Azhagesan, assistant general manager (projects), Yojaka (India) Pvt Limited, says that a fund of Rs 1 crore has already been allotted, but not even a single rupee has reached them. "The filling and piling work has already been started but all the expenses, so far, have been borne by Yojaka. Hence, there is a need to slowdown the project for the time being," he said.
 
"The bridge was expected to be completed by December 2013. But again, at this point of time, if the funds are collected, the team is capable of completing the project at the earliest by April 2014. As there is no road connecting the area, the company has to take some private land on rent to construct a temporary road,"  he said.
 
"The bridge will be built strong enough to support any number of people - either moving or standing - but the movement of vehicles has been completely restricted. Due to the completion of this project, the number of tourists is likely to be increased. No doubt this place will boost the number of tourists and end up being a major tourist hub,"  said Azhagesan.
 
"At present, there are ferry boats on service, but as there are certain timings to these boats, people would rather prefer to have an alternate means of transport. Hence, this hanging bridge would likely help out their needs. But even after the bridge is complete, there will be people who would prefer a ride in the boats as well,"  he said.
 
"For the time being, we have no idea as to whether there will be toll collection at this bridge. But certainly, there will be no toll collection on these bridges. And the worst part is that no people representatives or the government officials have made up their mind to visit the place and have a look at the construction work. Unless there are funds, there is no way we can complete this project in the estimated time,"  added Azhagesan.

  

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Comment on this article

  • William Rodrigues, Milagres, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 07 2013

    Instead of "FOOT BRIDGE" it would be wiser to construct a normal motor way bridge, which can serve for everyone - vehicles as well as pedestrians. Concerned authorities should meet and plan accordingly. This will be big link and can increase tourism too.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 01 2013

    This time our region is given maximum ministers. Please look into the matter immediately and allot the required fund at the earliest.
    Please for quality control create a local Task Force.
    Please check the tor-steel quality and the cement mixture used for the project.
    Attn: Ministers,
    Please quick start the project at the earliest.
    Jai Mangalore!

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • pasha, Karnataka

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Sub-standard construction. Look at the steel rods all rusted, dont they know that it has to be polyurethane or teflon coated so that the concrete does not crack. This bridge will fall in 5 years people will die, then investigation and blah blah. Substandard work is seen in the pictures, the steel cladding is crooked, substandard work practices, un-skilled workers. Where is the auditor who is supposed to check the grade of steel and concrete? What happened to the CRZ ruling, does it not apply here? Stop this nonsense immediately. Someone has taken the money and invested it at 12% interest and must be brought to book. Will the DC investigate this whole eyesore immediately?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vikranth, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Penalty has to be imposed back to government for not releasing payment as promised after awarding job to Yojaka. Yojak has been doing a great job and mobilized work at site without any advance payment. Now everyone need to find out whether the sanctioned amount for project has released or no, and if its released then where is it circulating, in India or dumped it in Swiss bank.

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Why this delay.When contracts were finalised there shold be time limit for compleetion of work or penalty clause including forfeiture of contracts in future because these works delay effect the public.Hope the government do the needful to expedite this pending work.Thanq.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Dear Shankar..
    Lobo Maam won't put his hands ...say in this case 'his legs' in the matter !...'cause he knows that it is a very'tight rope walk' and the project is 'starved' for funds!
    Right Lobo Maam?

    DisAgree [3] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shankar , mangalore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Mr Lobo should now put pressure on the govt. to release funds and see to it that the project get completed within next 4 years. By doing this, he can very well prove that people of Mangalore were right in chosing him.
    He also can inaugurate the bridge if it gets completed within 4 years. Who knows BJP might rock again in the next election!

    DisAgree [5] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D, Udupi

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Right said Abdul Razak and it will cost 10 times more.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • gerald, modankap

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    AND OUR POLITICIAN VERY BUSY WITH ANNOUNCING BUNDLE OF NEW PROJECTS WHICH WILL BE GOING TO NIGHTMARE TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    One might have seen many things 'hanging' in balance...but this takes the Cake....
    However I will not Fret
    'Cause My favourite
    The One and Only Mai Juliet
    Has comeback and made a Comment....
    To that extent
    I am content.....

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • RAQ, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Read it clearly. the filling work started in Feb 2013 and 1cr was sanctioned by your so called clean BJP, but it has not reached yojaka. Y? has the BJP spent it on Election and other personal gains? Congress came to power just a little over 2 months, and in the first 3 months BJP could get only 10% of work done and sanction only less than 9% of the project cost and that too that amount has not reached Yojaka.

    Investigation needs to be done. was Yojaka also hand in glove with BJP? which company takes up work for less than 10% advance which has not been given to yojaka yet.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vasant Raj, Mangalore / Abudhabi

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Nice snaps..HAT HILL TOP looks nice.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • jatin, mlore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Cheap politics played by the congress government.Just because it was started by the BJP govt. You can tkae credit but please finish of the project so that people can utilise the bridge. Its a great relief for most of the families staying in both sides of the river.JR Lobo can re inaugurate the bridge if he wants to take credit for it, but people dont care , just finish the project and let the people decide since everybody is desperate to vote for a change at the centre.

    DisAgree [18] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • juliet mascarenhas, bejai mangalore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    Hope the new Govt.will be successful in completing the various half done projects by the previous Govt.Sooner our dream of making Kodiyal a tourist center will come true.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abdul Razak, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 31 2013

    This project will take 10 years to complete.

    DisAgree [18] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangalore: Fate of Sultan Battery-Tannirbavi footbridge 'hangs' in balance



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