Shiradi Ghat re-opens for traffic

Uppinangady: Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel inaugurated the concretized section of the Shiradi Ghat road in the presence of State Minister for PWD H D Revanna, State Minister for Urban Development and Housing UT Khader,   former minister B Ramanatha Rai and other dignitaries and thus opened it for traffic and thereby brought an end to the six-month ordeal of motorists. The inauguration function was held at Gundya.

In 2014, of the 37 km of the ghat stretch, 26 km was proposed for concreting of which the stretch between Heggadde and Kempu Hole Guest House in Hassan district was concreted between January-August 2015. On January 15 this year, the concreting of the remaining 13 km was initiated because of which vehicular movement was banned along the Shiradi Ghat. Hence, the motorists were compleeld to depend on Sampaje or Charmadi Ghats.

M/s Ocean Constructions was the contractor for this work and had incidentally executed the first package aswell. As per the contract, technically the contractor had 18 months to complete the work but it obliged the government and people by completing the work in six months. However, some ancillary safety works are pending, which will be completed in a fortnight.

H.D. Revanna, Minister for Public Works spoke after the inauguration and urged Mr. Kateel to further ease travel between the coast and the hinterlands by taking up the proposed Shiradi Green Bypass Project [between Marenahalli, in Hassan district, and Gundiya in Dakshina Kannada district] with the Centre.

Since morning, vehicles had piled up at the Gundiya Gate to move via Shiradi Ghat and the police allowed vehicles to pass by around 4 p.m.

Only light vehicles allowed

For the next 15 days, to facilitate taking up of safety works, including that of guard walls, only two-wheelers, four wheelers and tempos will be allowed to move on the Shiradi Ghat. The decision was taken at a meeting of Minister for Urban Development U.T. Khader with Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil and Superintendent of Police B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda at Gundiya on Sunday.

Also, the authorities decided to restrict vehicular speed at 60 kmph on the stretch and to keep check on the rule, the police will keep interceptors at vantage position and book violators.