As the southwest monsoon approaches, the vulnerable Mangaluru–Bengaluru National Highway—especially the Charmadi Ghat stretch—once again teeters on the brink of disaster. Landslide-prone and narrow, the ghat’s 25 km stretch, spanning Dakshina Kannada and Chikkamagaluru districts, faces serious threats amid ongoing delays in safety infrastructure.
Despite work beginning nearly three years ago, retaining walls along high-risk zones remain incomplete. The Rs 15 crore project meant to wrap up within 12 months drags on, with only partial progress seen even after additional funds of Rs 3 crore were sanctioned for a 2.5 km section. Officials warn that if unfinished before peak monsoon, landslides could disrupt traffic severely.
Temporary fixes like sandbags have been deployed, while patch tarring and drainage work continue. But the pace remains sluggish. The region’s dense fog, steep hairpin bends, treefall risks, frequent wildlife crossings, and poor mobile connectivity only add to the peril.
Further along the route, near Doddathappale in Sakleshpura taluk, stabilization work at last year’s landslide site is less than 40% done—despite the Chief Minister’s direct intervention. Structural experts have also raised concerns about the flawed design of retaining walls that may not endure the monsoon’s wrath.
Although the Japanese mesh technique has been partially used, locals remain unconvinced of its effectiveness. Officials promise completion by June-end, but given the pace, confidence is low.
- ₹343.74 crore sanctioned for Charmadi Ghat upgrade on NH-73 for 2 lane
- Chikkamagaluru on High Alert Following Landslide Warning for Charmadi Ghat
#MonsoonThreat #CharmadiGhatLandslides #HighwayNegligence #IncompleteSafetyWorks