Charmadi Ghat Roadwork Crawls as Monsoon Nears, Raising Landslide Fears

Chikkamagaluru: Despite several years passing since the commencement of infrastructure upgrades, construction of retaining walls along the perilous Charmadi Ghat route remains sluggish. This 25 km ghat section on the Mangaluru–Villupuram National Highway, known for its steep slopes and tight curves, has just 13 km within Chikkamagaluru district, with the remainder in Dakshina Kannada.

The narrow road, especially in the Chikkamagaluru section, barely allows a bus and jeep to pass simultaneously in many areas, making it a high-risk stretch. Work on installing retaining structures at vulnerable locations began over three years ago with a ₹15 crore allocation. Though initial work was completed within a year, another ₹3 crore was sanctioned for additional wall construction. However, only half of this 2.5 km project has been completed so far.

With monsoon rains already hitting Charmadi, concerns are rising. Officials fear incomplete work may severely disrupt traffic and increase the risk of landslides, falling trees, and wildlife crossings. Temporary sandbags and patchwork asphalting are being done, but progress remains painfully slow.

Poor mobile network coverage, overflowing seasonal waterfalls, and dense fog compound the risks, especially when emergency responses are delayed.

In nearby Hassan, delays in completing the highway near Sakleshpur’s Doddathappale stretch have rekindled fears of landslides. Only 40% of that work is finished, despite government deadlines and past interventions by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Fifteen years after the project’s launch, critical stretches like Shiradi Ghat remain notorious for poor planning and persistent delays.

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