4 roads to reach Madikeri: Lack of willpower prevents their development

• No transport situation due to disregard of alternate road

Sullia: The Sampaje-Madikeri highway has collapsed till Jodupala-Madenadu. It will take a few months to restore it. There are four alternate routes vying to become the solution to the question on option for transport until then!

But due to the disregard for the development of alternate roads, the routes are not in a motorable condition. Since decades these routes have been facing the problem of lack of bridges, forest limits and mud road.

3 roads to Madikeri

If the government makes up its mind, there are 3 more roads to connect Madikeri with Sullia. If importance is given to their development, it will simplify the connection between Mangaluru- Madikeri-Mysuru- Bengaluru.

The routes

The first route is via Sullia- Arantodu- Sampaje- Kallu Gundi- Balembi- Dabbadadka- Koppatti- Chettimani- Bhagamandala- Madikeri. The distance between Sullia and Madikeri through this route is 72 kms and the travel time is 90 minutes. The road has been tarred till Dabbadaka. 2 small bridges are required. During summer periods, there is bus service till Dabbadadka. 1 km ahead from here, there is a dispute with the Forest Department and if it gets solved, connection with Madikeri is very close.

The second route is via Arantodu- Markanja- Alimale- Subhramanya- Kalmakaru- Galibidu. On this route, the stretch between Subhramanya and Kalmakaru- Galibidu is a mud road and joins with Madikeri check post. If this is development, the distance will be 45 kms and can be covered in 45 minutes.

According to what the localites say, the foundation for the road was laid back in 1972. However, sionce3 this area comes within the jurisdiction of the Forest Department, vehicles can pass through only with the Department’s permission. If the law is amended, the route can be utilized.

Sullia- Aletti- Panatturu- Karike- Bhagamandala- Madikeri is the third road. KSRTC has started temporary minibus service here. This route which is 98 kms long requires development on the Kodagu side of the route. Currently, there have been a few landslides here and 5-6 land hoes have been pressed into service for thoroughfare restoration. If this road is developed and widened, one can reach Madikeri in 3 hours.

There is another road

Other than these three roads, there is another road via Arantodu- Todikana- Patti- Bhagamandala- Madikeri. Through this route, the distance between Sullia and Bhagamandala is only 36 kms. The road has been tarred to Kattehole in Todikana village. There still remains 9 kms of the road to be developed. If this is done connection through ancient temples of Todikana Shri Mallikarjuna temple and Bhagamandala, Talakaveri Kshetras will be established.

Many villages have no connection

In the backdrop of the landslides along Madikeri-Sampaje Ghat road, many villages in Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada (D.K.) districts have become islands. The hundreds of students pursuing their education in Sullia are in much distress. More than 7,000 people from Jodupala, Kodagu, Sampaje, Chembu, Peraje village are unable to reach taluk centre Madikeri.

Almost completed

“Of the roads in Sullia- Karike- Madikeri- Arantodu- Subhramanya- Kalmakaru- Galibidu route belonging to the D.K. district limits have been developed. The development is required in Kodagu limits. 1 km of road tarring remains in the Sullia- Dabbadaka- Madikeri road. There is a problem here since it belongs to the Forest Department,” informed Hanumantarayappa, Z.P. AWD, Sullia.