Shiradi Ghat stretch to be opened to heavy vehicles today

Shiradi Ghat stretch to be opened to heavy vehicles today

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 02, 2018: The huge number of people constantly  travelling on buses and other modes, from the coast and the state capital may see some relief as the Dakshina Kannada district administration has decided to open the Shiradi Ghat stretch to very heavy vehicles — buses and trucks —  today morning, August 2, Thursday.

 

A vital link on National Highway 75 (Bengaluru-Mangaluru), Shiradi Ghat was closed for traffic for concreting a 13-km stretch between Kempu Hole Guest House and Adda Hole (near Gundiya) on January 15 this year. The stretch was opened for light motor vehicles on July 15. Though concreting work has been completed, several safety works, including guard walls, still remain pending. Portions of retaining walls of Kempu Hole collapsed due to heavy rain lashing the region. Consequently, the administration decided to allow only light motor vehicles till the contractor completed the balance of the safety works.

As on Wednesday, 95 % of the total work has been completed, said Sharfuddin Ali, Director of Ocean Constructions, the contractor executing the project at a cost of Rs. 74 crore.  Ali told media persons that the retaining walls on the river-side could not be rebuilt because of rain and they would be built post-monsoon. However, the company has erected reflective barricades at all vulnerable locations to caution motorists.

Road shoulders lower by one-two foot of the road surface are being filled with gravel being brought from Shettihalli in Hassan district, a distance of about 65 km. Gravel is strong and would not allow vehicles to slip when they veer out of the road surface, he said.

DK DC  S. Sasikanth Senthil stated that the decision to open the Shiradi Ghat section for heavy vehicles had to be immediately taken as he had received reports of portions of road on Sampaje Ghat shrinking due to movement of heavy vehicles and rain. Sampaje Ghat, on Mani-Mysuru National Highway, was an alternative route for heavy vehicles during the closure of the Shiradi Ghat stretch. The opening of the Shiradi Ghat stretch would reduce the burden on Charmadi Ghat, which was being used as another alternative route by light vehicles and six-wheel heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks.