Kanive finally gets a hanging bridge

The decades old dream of the villagers of Kanive in North Kodagu has finally realised in the form of hanging bridge that has been constructed across Cauvery River.

The bridge has been constructed near Kanive by Malnad Development Board and will be open for the public within few days. The bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 47 lakh using modern technology will allow the villagers from North Kodagu to connect with the border region of Piriyapatna taluk in Mysore district and vice versa.

 Hundreds of school children, daily wage labourers and villagers from Doddakamaravalli, Shyanuboghhalli, Dindigadu and other villages of Mysore district will be benefited from the bridge as they can reach Kodagu district in a short span of time.

It could be recalled that the villagers were facing a tough time from several years as there was not even proper boat service to reach the other side of the river. They had to reach Kodagu by travelling over 15 km by bus.

With the construction of the hanging bridge the villagers are full of gratitude to hanging bridge expert Girish Bharadwaj who has built the attractive bridge within two and half months.

Co-incidentally the first bridge built by Girish Bharadwaj is the 20 year old bridge across Cauvery River in Cauvery Nisargadhama near Kushalnagar. The bridge at Kanive is the 101st bridge designed by him.

Girish, who was the school-mate of Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, had asked the CM during his recent visit to Sullia, to give special priority for the construction of hanging bridges as it would fulfil the needs of hundreds of people.

Speaking to Deccan Herald Girish Bharadwaj said that he is overwhelmed with the love and affection he has received from the villagers.

Structure of bridge

The bridge has been built with the help of 20 workers. The 33  ft high two concrete pillars have been built on both sides of the river and the pillars are connected with 83.5 meter iron rope. Galvanised iron ropes have been fixed on both sides of the bridge for safety purpose. Ferocement slabs have been fixed on the bridge pavement, informed Girish adding that the responsibility of looking after the bridge would be given to local Gram Panchayat.

Further he said that Kanive Ramalingeshwara Kshetra will draw more number of visitors due to the hanging bridge.

MLA Appachu Ranjan informed that a hanging bridge will be constructed on Cauvery River near Theppadakandi follow the same technique