mangalore today

Charmadi Ghat road widening work resumed from Dakshina Kannada end


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, 22 May 2015: Following instructions from Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim widening of road and storm water drain work has resumed after a gap of four months ahead of monsoon in Charmadi Ghat section of National Highway {NH} 234.


Charmadi Ghat road widening work  1

 

Charmadi Ghat road widening work  2

 

Charmadi Ghat road widening work  3


The Vehicular movement on Charmadi Ghat threw haywire after the closure of Shiradi Ghat. Traffic diversions were enforced on 2 January 2015 for the repair of Shiradi Ghat stretch on Mangaluru - Bengaluru National Highway which is expected to be completed end of May. 


Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Ibrahim had expressed unhappiness over the laxity on the part of officials from the Public Works Department’s National Highways division in emergency repair work of widening the road wherever possible on the Charmadi Ghat in the month of January soon after the diversion.


Now, the work resumed in the part Dakshina Kannada stretch of the ghat from Charmadi side near Ujire and two earth movers and one stone cutting machine along with the gang pressed for the purpose. The gang men finding it difficult to work with twin bucket earth mover due to increased vehicular traffic on a very narrow stretch of the road. 


Signages at hairpin bends, speed limits and other directions on the ghat section were installed only after the traffic diversion. The Charmadi Ghat section of NH - 234 has 20 sharp curves and 11 hairpin bends.


The ordinary KSRTC buses, private buses, car, jeep, van, two-wheeler and LCV minivan are diverted from Shiradi section to Charmadi. The vehicles go through Hassan - Belur (SH-57) on Mudigere - Charmadi Ghat - Belthangady - Ujire - B C Road (NH-234) - Mangaluru (NH-75). 


At present, KSRTC Mangaluru and Chikmagaluru depots are providing 220 trips of ordinary and express buses on Charmadi route. 


No improvement of road on the upper stretch of Charmadi ghat has been initiated from Chickmaglur district administration.