Travelling along Charmadi Ghat; uncertainty reduced

Belthangady: Currently, Charmadi Ghat is the only Ghat route that connects with Dakshina Kannada district and presently, the traffic moving along this route is passing at slow but without any hindrances. The decrease in rainfall has reduced the uncertainty of unhindered thoroughfare along this route.

Earlier, with the heavy rains lashing at D.K. and the Western Ghats, there was a fear of uncertainty on when Charmadi Ghat too may succumb to a natural disaster. With the increase in traffic density along the route, there was fear of a possible landslide due to the torrents of rainwater gushing on the road. But, since a few days, the amount of rainfall has dipped.

In the backdrop of the fear of a possible landslide, D.K. and Chikmagalur district administration banned the passage of heavy vehicles along Charmadi Ghat. Since this Ghat has hairpin bends, other vehicles had to come to a halt when heavy vehicles were attempting the hairpin turns. Heavy vehicles were also finding it very tedious to traverse the incline of the Ghat.

When the heavy vehicles were travelling through the Ghat, tankers. lorries, containers used to get spoilt and stop on the road leading to frequent traffic jams. Also, since all the vehicles used to pass through this route, the traffic would lie stagnant for kilometres together.

Potholes, the major hindrance

Massive potholes have come into existence along the length of the road. Even though they are repaired, in a couple of days, it returns to its prior state of disrepair.