Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Nov 13: Mularpatna bridge which connects Arala in Bantwal taluk and Muttur in Mangaluru taluk, has been reconstructed and ready for use after a gap of three years. This bridge across River Phalguni has been built at a cost of Rs 13.9 crore. The bridge was thrown open for public use on Friday November 12.

The bridge served as an important link that joined Bantwal taluk with Mangaluru taluk. It crashed three years ago. Students of Muttur government primary, high school and PU college who were totally dependent on this bridge had a hard time. The villagers too suffered. They depended on the hanging bridge to cross the river. In the meantime, local youngsters, under the banner of GHM organization, had heaped mud across the river during the summer months to lay a temporary mud road and thereby enabled people to cross the river by walking on this embankment.

As there was no bridge, the government buses moved only between B C Road to Mularpatna, and from Mangaluru to Muttur. Vehicles going to Kuppepadavu, Ganjimath, Sornadu, Siddakatte, Loretto etc had to take a detour via Kuriyala, Sanoorpadavu and Moodbidri road.

The people were losing their patience as the bridge was not completed even after nearly three years, and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had said that union minister for highways, Nitin Gadkari, would be inaugurating this bridge.