Bridge work at Yermal Kalsanka hangs in balance

The construction of a bridge at Yermal Kalsanka taken up three years ago, as a part of the four-laning of NH 66, remains incomplete even to this day.

The work on the bridge commenced in May, 2017. However, it was stopped within a month due to the monsoon. After the monsoon had receded, the work continued but at a snail’s pace, residents charged.

The work was again suspended during the monsoon in 2018.

After the monsoon, the work on laying the road was initiated. If the work is not completed at the earliest, artificial floods will wreak havoc in the region during the monsoon, residents feared.

The work on service road and stormwater drains from Yermal Kalsanka to Padubidri Pete has remained incomplete. With works lying incomplete, the commercial complexes in the area will have to bear the brunt of flash floods during the monsoon. Despite district administration’s ultimatum to the contractor, Navayug Company, on completing the work, the work has remained incomplete, the shopkeepers said.

A girl student had lost her life a year ago due to flash flood in the area on May 29, 2018. The heavy rain that lashed in July last had inundated the national highway, thus throwing traffic on Mangaluru-Udupi Highway out of gear.

After the tragedy, officials woke up and retaining walls were constructed on Padubidri-Padebettu-Poondadu road that passes through Kalsanka Bail. The work on a minor bridge had just begun, Suresh, a local resident, said.

“If it is not completed at the earliest, residents will find it difficult to commute during monsoon. A stream that passes through the area is filled with silt. The authorities should take up desilting work at the earliest,” he added.