JOIN USThe long pending demand for construction of a bridge across River Tunga to provide connectivity between Muthinakoppa and Mandagadde, is yet to be realised.
Though a bridge was sanctioned in 1970s, due to lack of political will on the part of people’s representatives from the region, the bridge was shifted to Muduba.
Tunga river flows between Muthinakoppa and Mandagadde. As a result, the residents have to use boats to cross the river. If a bridge is constructed, then it will provide connectivity between the two villages, which are just two kilometres apart. To reach Mandagadde via road from Muthinakoppa, one has to travel 10-km.
However, boat service is suspended when there is floods in River Tunga, causing inconvenience to the residents. Even during night, the boat service is not available. As a result, residents have to use the road service.
If a bridge is constructed, then it will provide easy connectivity to NH 13 which passes through Shivamogga and Theerthahalli and also to Ramadurga and Mangaluru. It will also reduce the travel distance to Shivamogga by eight kilometres.
Residents said that Muthinakoppa had submitted the proposal to the State government in 1987-88.
Later, when H D Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister, a proposal on the same was submitted again. However, it was of no use.
Taluk Congress unit president K P Amshumanth said “a proposal on the bridge was submitted to Malnad Area Development Board when Jayaprakash Hegde was MP.”
MLA D N Jeevraj said that an effort will be made to sanction bridge across Tunga river.
Sayyed Anwar, who travels daily on boat said “there may not be people to run the boat service in the future. The construction of a bridge will benefit residents of both the villages. Elected representatives of the region should pressurise the State government to sanction the bridge.”
Malnad Area Development Board President B C Geetha said that a proposal to construct a hanging bridge across river Tunga to provide connectivity between Muthinakoppa and Mandagadde has been submitted.