Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 5: On the basis of the report of experts that the old bridge on national highway 66 at Kulur which is known for arcs or 'Kamaanu' in Kannada, is unfit for vehicular traffic, the district administration, on Tuesday June 4, placed ban on movement of heavy vehicles on this bridge with immediate effect.

The construction of a new bridge in place of the dilapidated one will begin soon. Till a new bridge comes up, heavy vehicles will be temporarily barred from moving on the old bridge. The deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district has instructed the officials to enforce the ban within a week, as time is required to make arrangements for alternative routes and other things.

Bullet tankers: Bullet tankers moving towards Bengaluru and vice versa would have to mova via Padubidri, Karkala, Guruvayanakere, Dharmasthala, Kokkada and Periyashanti. Bullet tankers coming towards Udupi from Kerala have to take diversion at KPT and move via Kavoor, Bajpe, Kana and Suratkal.

Buses, trucks and tankers coming into the city from the direction of Udupi will not be allowed to enter the old bridge. Two-way traffic would be allowed on the Kulur new bridge for the present.

Light vehicles like cars, jeeps, tempos, auto rickshaws and two-wheelers can continue to move on the old bridge. These vehicles can move both ways on the old bridge. Traffic problems are likely to arise here as other vehicles have been asked to use the new bridge nearby.

A Hyderabad-based firm, Aarvee Associates, which had been appointed by the department of surface transport and highways to check the strength of the old bridge, had, after checking the bridge and matching it with documents and model, certified it to be unfit for vehicular traffic. Later, a team of experts conducting survey of 'Bhatatmala' project had also supported this finding. Therefore, the district administration had been asked by the highways authority to stop vehicles from using this bridge on September 27 last.

Under the 'Bharatmala' project, the national highways authority has proposed to the union highways department to convert the 3.5 km road between Kulur and Bykampady into six-lane one. Under this project, there is a plan to build a bridge at Kulur across Falguni river at a cost of Rs 37 crore. This bridge will of six lane, and work is likely to begin soon.