Heavy vehicles continue to defy Charmadi Ghat ban

Movement of heavy vehicles despite ban,  stormwater drain work, boulders on the road and accumulation of soil following minor land slides, force road users to take at least two hours to cross 16-km long road on Charmadi Ghat.

Heavy vehicles violate the ban and continue to ply on the Charmadi Ghat stretch. If the vehicles break down on the stretch, then travellers are forced to spend their time amidst the forest, till the vehicle is repaired and continues its journey further.

The National Highway has taken up the work on removing the boulders beside the road. As a result, small gravels fall on the road and has filled half the road. This has forced the vehicle users to use the road on one side at several locations on the stretch. Owing to lack of stormwater drains, the rain water flows on the road and thus damages the road. The road has developed huge potholes on the stretch.

Charmadi Ghat is one of the main road which connects Malnad with Coastal district following the closure of Shiradi Ghat. The public have urged the authorities to strengthen check-posts on both sides and ensure that heavy vehicles do not enter the Charmadi Ghat stretch and complete the work on the Shiradi Ghat to reduce the density of traffic on the Charmadi Ghat.