Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Aug 3: District incharge minister Ramanath Rai on Monday August 3 announced that the newly-concreted 13 km stretch of Shiradi Ghat connecting Mangaluru and Bengaluru will open on August 10 for all vehicles.
Addressing a press meet at the Circuit House here, Rai said, "We have already held discussions with the minister for public works and decided to open the Shiradi Ghat on August 10, after completing all the pending works like installation of crash barriers, signboards and shouldering works along the stretch."
He also said that he and state minister for public works H C Mahadevappa along with former union minister Oscar Fernandes will visit the Ghat stretch on August 9 and from next day the vehicular movement would be allowed.
On Shishila-Byrapura road work, he said, "We have discussed this with the public works department, and the forest department will give permission for the work."
When media persons questioned about the delay in arresting the Gopal Gowda who allegedly cut off Dalit Sundara Malekudiya's fingers at Neriya in Beltangady, Rai said, "The police department has to do that (arrest)."
He also denied allegations that the government was protecting the accused and said, "No one is protecting anyone. Our government is against suppression of any form. Proper action will be taken against the offender," he said.
Regarding water scarcity in the city from two days, mayor Jacintha Alfred said, "It is due to the damage caused to two main pipelines (at Kannur)."
Former mayor Shashidar Hegde added, "Repair work is going on and in two days the entire city will get water."
Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, MUDA chairman Kodijal Ibrahim and others were present.
Puttur: Vehicles take Shiradi Ghat route, get stranded for hours
Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Aug 3: A large number of vehicles took Shiradi Ghat route to ply between Mangaluru and Bengaluru on Saturday August 1, and created traffic chaos as the stretch is as yet unprepared to handle this rush. The vehicles, overlooking the fact that their entry into the Ghat section here has not yet been cleared, made a beeline there, having been frustrated with the experience of taking Charmadi Ghat road.
The administration had said that initially light vehicles would be allowed to use this road for two weeks, and then heavy vehicles would be permitted. But, heavy vehicles entered this road since Saturday afternoon, following in the line of smaller vehicles which started to run on this road since that morning. On Saturday night, buses and other heavy vehicles also came by this road.
After a vehicle got stuck in the mud, traffic got blocked, and hundreds of buses and cars lined up from Kempu Hole to Gundia. After the stranded vehicle was moved out with the help of crane at around 8 am on Sunday, vehicles could move forward. On Sunday too, buses and light vehicles used this road. Although the ban has not been officially lifted, and the district administration had said that heavy vehicles would be allowed later, all vehicles tried to make use of this road suddenly. There are no obstacles or check posts on this road to enforce this ban. As such, vehicles are free to enter this stretch of the road.
The people have asked the administration to clarify whether this road is free for traffic, and to streamline traffic if ban has been lifted. If this road is not cleared in view of pending works, the administration has to place suitable boards and ban entry of vehicles, they have urged.