Harshini Brahmavar
Pics: Justin D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Nov 8: The national highway that passes by the old Indrali railway bridge is in a precarious condition. The administration is not bothered to even do some patchwork to prevent any loss of life on this road. Locals says that though the people's representatives make use of the same road everyday, they are not bothered to resolve the issue.

Though four-lane work was done between Kalsanka and Kunjibettu in order to develop this city further, widening of Indrali railway bridge was not done. The asphalt that is put on the road has come off and iron rods are visible, which pose danger to the tyres of the vehicles.

Indrali railway bridge project is stalled since two years. While constructing Manipal-Kalsanka state highway road, letter communication had occurred between railway department and PWD to build one more bridge. However, no work related to bridge has taken place till date.

According to the report of Commissioner of Railway (CR), IIT Madras had inspected the design of Indrali railway bridge on NH 169 A and had sent the same to CR to provide NOC. After going through the report in detailed manner, permission to build the railway bridge will be given. An appeal is sent to Konkan railway in 2017 requesting to build Indrali railway bridge. The blue print of the same is changed five times.

Information with regard to the availability of NOC for building the bridge is not available with anyone. It seems both the government and the concerned department lack interest in this respect.

B B Nikham of Karwar Konkan railway says, "Verification of blue print of the Indrali railway bridge is already done by Konkan railway. It is sent to CR for approval. Once approved, the work will start."

According to Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, alongwith the existing railway bridge at Indrali, a new bridge will also be built to go to Manipal. Seperate grant is reserved for traffic signal and more smoother vehicular movement at Kalsanka junction. This includes underground drainage and footpath. On the whole, the process of building a separate bridge is in the last stages of approval.

People who commute through this road everyday are cautious about this area as they know the pathetic state of road. However, ambulance drivers who use this road for the first time will surely be in grave danger. So the locals urge that till the time the new bridge gets approval, patchwork needs to be done on the existing bridge to prevent any loss of life.