<p>Sagar: Defending the decision to inaugurate the country's second longest cable-stayed bridge constructed across the Sharavathi backwaters in Sagar taluk on Monday, despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to postpone the event, MP B Y Raghavendra said that it has been inaugurated to ensure that people of the region would not face any trouble during emergency situation as the ferry service has to be stopped when water level in Linganamakki dam reaches 1810 feet against the maximum level of 1819 feet.</p><p>He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of six projects of National Highways Authority of India and laying foundation stone for three projects worth Rs 2,042 crore on Nehru maidan in the city on Monday. </p><p>He said, "We wanted to inaugurate this at the earliest as people in general and pregnant women of the region in particular would find it difficult to reach Sagar city when launch service comes to halt due to copious rains. We constructed the bridge for the benefit of people of the region. We never wanted people to face any hardship when the bridge has been constructed. So, it has been inaugurated."</p><p>He added and indicated that there was no attempt to take political mileage from this.</p><p>In an indirect jibe at Congress-led government at the Centre and the state, the MP said people were paying taxes to the government earlier also. But there was no development then. People must think what are the reasons for it, he suggested.</p>.Gadkari inaugurates India's second longest cable-stayed bridge in Karnataka; Congress skips event over Siddaramaiah snub.<p>He also claimed that the gram panchayat road has been upgraded to national highway for the construction of the such a longest bridge. Detailed project report for the construction of an approach road worth Rs 920 crore has been approved and the works will commence soon.</p><p>Expressing his gratitude to union minister Gadkari, the MP said, "In our democracy, projects remain incomplete, one leader lays foundation stone and the other inaugurates it. But you(Gadkari) had laid foundation stone for the bridge six years ago and now you have inaugurated it. This would not have been possible without your support. The 60-year demand has been met in six years."</p><p>Explaining the reasons, he said over 20,000 people of 60 villages in the region had given away their lands, houses for the construction of the dam and hydro-power generating plants. Despite giving power to the state, they remained in dark for many years. They were unable to travel between their households and Sagar city after 6:30pm. Some villagers were drowned when a boat capsized while going to a hospital in the past. Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa was aware of the hardships and got the bridge project approved by the Centre during his tenure as MP of Shivamogga.</p><p>Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra also urged Gadkari to take steps towards executing Agumbe tunnel road project in Thirthahalli taluk. Agumbe that connects Shivamogga with Udupi district is very unsafe stretch for vehicle users due to the presence of steep hairpin turns and landslide during the rainy season. Over 10,000 vehicles ply on this stretch everyday. For the benefit of people, tunnel road has to be constructed, he appealed.</p><p>He also urged the state government to submit a proposal to the Centre to name the bridge after Sigandur Chowdeshwari.</p>
<p>Sagar: Defending the decision to inaugurate the country's second longest cable-stayed bridge constructed across the Sharavathi backwaters in Sagar taluk on Monday, despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to postpone the event, MP B Y Raghavendra said that it has been inaugurated to ensure that people of the region would not face any trouble during emergency situation as the ferry service has to be stopped when water level in Linganamakki dam reaches 1810 feet against the maximum level of 1819 feet.</p><p>He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of six projects of National Highways Authority of India and laying foundation stone for three projects worth Rs 2,042 crore on Nehru maidan in the city on Monday. </p><p>He said, "We wanted to inaugurate this at the earliest as people in general and pregnant women of the region in particular would find it difficult to reach Sagar city when launch service comes to halt due to copious rains. We constructed the bridge for the benefit of people of the region. We never wanted people to face any hardship when the bridge has been constructed. So, it has been inaugurated."</p><p>He added and indicated that there was no attempt to take political mileage from this.</p><p>In an indirect jibe at Congress-led government at the Centre and the state, the MP said people were paying taxes to the government earlier also. But there was no development then. People must think what are the reasons for it, he suggested.</p>.Gadkari inaugurates India's second longest cable-stayed bridge in Karnataka; Congress skips event over Siddaramaiah snub.<p>He also claimed that the gram panchayat road has been upgraded to national highway for the construction of the such a longest bridge. Detailed project report for the construction of an approach road worth Rs 920 crore has been approved and the works will commence soon.</p><p>Expressing his gratitude to union minister Gadkari, the MP said, "In our democracy, projects remain incomplete, one leader lays foundation stone and the other inaugurates it. But you(Gadkari) had laid foundation stone for the bridge six years ago and now you have inaugurated it. This would not have been possible without your support. The 60-year demand has been met in six years."</p><p>Explaining the reasons, he said over 20,000 people of 60 villages in the region had given away their lands, houses for the construction of the dam and hydro-power generating plants. Despite giving power to the state, they remained in dark for many years. They were unable to travel between their households and Sagar city after 6:30pm. Some villagers were drowned when a boat capsized while going to a hospital in the past. Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa was aware of the hardships and got the bridge project approved by the Centre during his tenure as MP of Shivamogga.</p><p>Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra also urged Gadkari to take steps towards executing Agumbe tunnel road project in Thirthahalli taluk. Agumbe that connects Shivamogga with Udupi district is very unsafe stretch for vehicle users due to the presence of steep hairpin turns and landslide during the rainy season. Over 10,000 vehicles ply on this stretch everyday. For the benefit of people, tunnel road has to be constructed, he appealed.</p><p>He also urged the state government to submit a proposal to the Centre to name the bridge after Sigandur Chowdeshwari.</p>