The residents of Muthinakoppa and Mandagadde have been demanding a bridge across river Thunga for the last several decades. However, the demands have not been fulfilled so far.

In fact, the government had sanctioned a bridge to provide connectivity between Munthinakoppa and Mandagadde way back in 1970. However, owing to the negligence attitude of the elected representatives, the bridge was shifted to Muduba village.

With Thunga river flowing between, there is no connectivity between Muthinakoppa and Mandagadde.

The villagers have to depend on boat service to reach their destination. If the bridge is realised, then the distance between Muthinakoppa and Mandagadde will be just two kilometre. One can reach either of the village by walking. Without the bridge, the distance between Mandagadde and Muthinakoppa is 10 km. The bridge will also provide connectivity to NH 13, which passes through Shimoga and Theerthahalli and National Highway 66 to Mangalore via Ramadurga. The distance to Shimoga will be reduced by eight kilometre. The villagers of Mandagadde, Theerthahalli will be nearer to Muthinakoppa, Umblebailu, Bhadravathi and Tarikere.

“The boat services get suspended during heavy rain, causing inconvenience to the school going children, office goers.”

Muthinakoppa Gram Panchayat had written to the State government on the need for the bridge during 1987-88. However, the bridge is still a distant dream, said zilla panchayat former member H T Rajendra.

District-in-Charge Minister D N Jeevraj said that all efforts will be made to provide connectivity between Muthinakoppa and Mandagadde.

“Tender is invited for providing boat services every year. The number of users of boat
service varies daily. However, we have to wait from dawn-to-dusk for the passengers daily. There is no one to continue the ferry service after us. It would be better, if the State government builds a bridge,” says ferry service provider Sayyed Anwar.