Despite ban, heavy vehicles ply on Shiradi Ghat

Villagers have alleged that in spite of the district administration banning movement of heavy vehicles on Shiradi Ghat, the vehicles continue to ply on the stretch.

Such vehicles include container lorries and private buses, they added.

The newly concreted Shiradi Ghat road was inaugurated on July 15 by Public Works Minister H D Revanna.

As the works on shoulders and guard walls were pending, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil had banned the movement of heavy vehicles on the stretch, to facilitate the work. However, the heavy vehicles continue to ply on the stretch.

A gate has been closed at Gundya on Dakshina Kannada border where police personnel check the movement of vehicles. However, the gate at Sakleshpura is still open. As a result, the heavy vehicles continue to use the road, said the villagers.

Villagers asked, when heavy vehicles can ply on the stretch, why KSRTC buses are not permitted to use the road.

Malnadu Parisara Rakshana Samithi convener Kishore Shiradi said, “Amid the ban, heavy vehicles continue to ply. Even the night buses to Bengaluru ply on the stretch. In such a scenario, the district administration should once again review the road work and allow the movement of KSRTC buses on the stretch.”