Mangaluru: The Karnataka Forests Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge B Ramanath Rai was disconcerted over the ‘passive’ approach of Public Works Department in the upgradation of Charmadi Ghat road on Monday June 29.
Since the closure of Shiradi Ghat stretch of the road on the national highway 75 in January this year, Charmadi Ghat has been used as an alternative route between Mangaluru and Bengaluru. However due to slow pace of works by the PWD on Shiradi Ghat, the Charmadi Ghat had been witnessing frequent road blocks, such as narrow road and poor road conditions.
Presiding over a meeting of the district natural calamity monitoring committee here, Rai criticized the ‘irresponsible’ attitude of the PWD which did not take any step to develop the Charmadi Ghat road despite repeated directions given by the district administration last year itself.
Meanwhile, DK Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim also stressed that the PWD which did nothing last year in the Charmadi section, stated work only after two ministers were caught in traffic jam soon after the closure of the Shiradi Ghat.
