Mangaluru: Keeping in mind the structural issues of the arch bridge on Kulur NH 66, passing over the River Phalguni, Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil has given a week’s time for traffic diversion on the old Kulur arch bridge
Speaking to Newskarnataka.com, on Tuesday, June 5 he said, “I have already directed the Assistant Commissioner of the Mangaluru City Corporation to fix a deadline for the traffic diversion on the old arch bridge within a week’s time. The dates have already been negotiated for the purpose. It’s just the official announcement that is pending.”
“In the Detailed Project Planning (DPR) report submitted to me by the officials concerned have apprised me of the cracks developing on the old arch bridge. In order to avoid any untoward incident, we took immediate action to stop the heavy vehicular movement on the bridge and diverted them”, he added.
On whether the new six-lane project for which the Union Minister of Road and Transport Nitin Gadkari had laid foundation stone was initiated or not, DC Senthil said, “The project is on line and will begin soon, once the vehicular movement the on the old bridge is sorted.”
The arch bridge is well over half-a-century old. The ban on heavy vehicular movement, especially the bullet tankers, was ordered by DC Senthil under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, Section 115 which states “Power to restrict the use of vehicles.” The ban is imposed until the new bridge is constructed alongside.
Based on this, the route has been diverted for the heavy vehicles. Bullet tankers plying towards Bengaluru from Udupi and also the ones which come to Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) from Bengaluru will have to now come via the Padubidri-Periyashanti route. The bullet tankers that travel from Kerala towards Udupi will take a route via KPT to Surathkal in order to reach MRPL. The buses, lorries and tankers will now travel on the Kulur new bridge in two-lanes.
However, the light motor vehicles are allowed to use the arch bridge in two-lanes. DC Senthil has told the project director of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to put up caution and direction signs according to the Motor Vehicle Act 1988, Section 116, which allows “Power to erect traffic signs.”
It may be recalled that the foundation stone for the new six-lane bridge project at a cost of Rs 65 Crore was laid by Nitin Gadkari through a video conference on March 5.
