Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, May 7: Karnataka's first pontoon bridge (floating bridge) was inaugurated at Malpe beach here on Friday May 6.
MLA Raghupati Bhat inaugurated the floating bridge and enjoyed the walk on it.
In his inaugural address, Raghupati Bhat said, “Malpe beach has already received world recognition. Tourists are visiting the beach from far-off places to enjoy adventurous water sports. This beach is attracting foreigners and now has become an even more attractive destination for vacation. Not only that but providing security to the tourists is also our duty. Hence, 20-25 lifeguards will be deployed in the beginning of project here.
“Tourists will be attracted only when there is something new at the beach. Many recreational activities are already present here. I wish and hope that tourists will come here in more numbers after the launching of this project.
“The district administration and Malpe beach development committee will provide all kind of support to launch new activities or projects only when local youth will provide maximum safety measures. In this way, the local youths will get more employment and there will be more entertainment for the tourists. I wish more such new projects to come up here.
“Two personal watercrafts will be purchased by the district administration keeping in mind the safety of tourists. It will be utilised for protection purpose of tourists at the beach and St Mary's Island,” he said.
Sudesh Shetty, contractor said, ''Tourists are enjoying the walk on the floating bridge. The total length of the bridge is 100 meters and width is 3.5 meters. This facility will be kept open for 15 days on a trial basis. Now the monsoon season has just begun. We will restart this project from next year. The total cost of the project is around Rs 75-80 lac. The pontoon was purchased under partnership of three people. We have deployed 10 life guards and 39 others to maintaining the safety of tourists here. We have plans to introduce more such water sports activities in the days to come in order to attract more tourists.”
Pramod Madhwaraj, former minister, Sumithra Nayak, president, city municipality council, Lakshmi Manjunath, vice president, Panduranga Malpe, Malpe beach development committee, Manju Kola, president, Hindu Yuva sena, Shekhar Puthran, Dananjay Kanchan and Dr Roshan Kumar Shetty, assistant director, Youth empowerment and Sports department, Shaktivelu, sub inspector, Malpe police station and others present.