In a recent development, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP has issued show-cause notices to officials from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PWD) for failing to submit reports on bridge safety. This action follows a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Saturday concerning safety measures for roads and bridges in the district.
The Deputy Commissioner had previously instructed both departments to provide a detailed report on the safety of bridges on national highways, state highways, and district roads. Despite these instructions, neither the NHAI nor the PWD has submitted a satisfactory report.
Deputy Commissioner Muhilan expressed significant concern over the safety of highways, which are heavily trafficked daily. He criticized the NHAI project director for inadequate measures to reinforce the stability of the old Kuloor bridge on the National Highway. Furthermore, progress on the new bridge project has stalled with no clear timeline for its completion.
During a District Disaster Management Authority meeting on August 8, the Deputy Commissioner directed all relevant departments, police, and local bodies to conduct a joint survey of bridge stability across the district and submit their findings within 24 hours. The meeting was attended by key officials including ZP CEO Dr. Anandh, SP Yathish N, DCP Dinesh Kumar, and Additional DC Dr. Santhosh Kumar.