Shirady ghat road closure dates uncertian

Shirady ghat road closure dates uncertian

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaulu, Dec 6 ,2014 :   The Public Works Department (PWD) principal secretary will hold a meeting with deputy commissioners of Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, officials from the department of National Highway, PWD, police and RTO on December 10 and decide when the Ghat section will be closed for traffic to take up the Rs 155 crore upgradation works. The venue of the meeting has not been decided.   With alternative roads not ready and material collection not geared up, PWD minister HD Mahadevappa refused to take a call on the closure of Shiradi Ghat.

Mahadevappa, who laid foundation stone for the Rs 28 crore improvement of Hanbal Road, which is one of the alternate routes, near Sakleshpur said: "No hasty decision on road closure will be taken. It will be done only after ensuring that alternative routes are fully ready. The decision should not cause confusion and hardship to road users.

The minister said he has directed officials to again check the alternative routes for their traffic-worthiness, quantity of collection of sand, coarse aggregate and preparedness to take up the Ghat works on war-footing. These aspects will be discussed by the principal secretary with all officials involved in this exercise and a final decision will be taken, he added.  National Highway Superintending Engineer Raghavan briefed the minister about the status of the materials and minor work in progress on Shiradi Ghat.

Forest minister B Ramanath Rai, who also accompanied the PWD minister, suggested that Subrahmanya Bisle Ghat Sakleshpur route could be taken up for road improvement so that it could also be used as an alternate route during Ghat closure.

Hassan DC Anbukkumar, superintendent of police Ravi D Channannanavar, ZP CEO Upendra Pratap Singh, DK DC AB Ibrahim, principal secretary M R Kamble, additional secretary M B Burji, NH chief engineer Mrutyunjaya Swamy and others were present.  No decision has materialised as of now.