PADUBIDRI: A bridge at Karnire-Koppala near Phalimar in Balkunje Gram Panchayat located on the borders of Udupi-Mangalore district, is today in a dangerous state and is crying for attention. There is also a fear that a failure on the part of the authorities to repair this bridge would cut off this place from the two districts.
The bridge was constructed by the PWD in the year 1981 at the recommendations of the then Mulki-Moodbidri legislator Dr Damodar Mulki at a cost of several lakhs of rupees. The sorry state of the bridge within just 30 years of is construction, reveals the poor quality of construction of a bridge that is being used by hundreds of vehicles including heavy vehicles daily.
It is also a common sight to see cement layers peel off from beneath this bridge whenever a heavy vehicle passes through Even the iron beams are clearly visible on the exterior of this bridge.
Locals say their repeated appeal to the authorities concerned to get this bridge repaired, has been of no avail. One reason cited for its sorry state is the hundreds of heavily loaded tippers carrying jelly to the Nagarjuna and Suzlon project sites from the quarry at Ulepady. Apart from this, hundreds of loads of sand too is transported through this route.
There is an urgent need to save this bridge and this requires the timely attention of the local authorities and the elected representatives.
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