3 choices for B'luru-M'luru commuters

Shiradi Ghat road to be closed for 6 months for repairs

It’s now official. The Shiradi Ghat road will be closed for traffic for six months from January 2, for work to upgrade the stretch. The Ghat is a key link on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Road. Commuters now have three alternative routes (see map).

Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim announced the closure in the city on Tuesday night. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday. This follows a number of deadlines that could not be met.

The closure of the Ghat will affect a large number of people travelling between the two cities, especially year-end holidayers. But they can commute on the three alternative routes.

All ‘A’ category vehicles (light vehicles and passenger cars) will have to ply via Charmadi Ghat Road (Mangaluru, BC Road, Belthangady, Kottigehara, Mudigere, Hassan, Channarayapatna, Bengaluru). ‘B’ category vehicles (Volvo and super deluxe buses) except tankers will have to ply via Mani-Mysuru Road (Mangaluru, BC Road, Mani, Puttur, Sampaje, Madikeri, Mysuru, Bengaluru). Trucks can ply from Mangaluru via Udupi, Kundapur, Baindoor, Bhatkal, Honnavar and Shivamogga to reach Bengaluru.

There are two other short routes to Bengaluru from Mangaluru via Agumbe Ghat and Bisile Ghat (Subramanya-Sakleshpur Road). But they will not be available for commuters. While the Agumbe Ghat is likely to be closed soon, the Bisile Ghat is under repairs.

When contacted, Ibrahim said that the work at Koinadu in Kodagu is complete (Mani-Madikeri Road) and the road will be open for traffic soon.

The Shiradi Ghat stretch (Gulagalale in Hassan district to Addahole in D-K district) will be developed at a cost of Rs 155.18 crore. While Ocean Constructions in Mangaluru has bagged the tender to concretise 13.62 km from Heggadde to Kempuhole at Rs 69.9 crore, the 21-km highway from Gulagalale to Heggadde will be asphalted at Rs 22.47 crore. The tender for the remaining 12.3-km stretch to be concretised, from Kempuhole to Addahole, at Rs 62.81 crore is being finalised.