BELAGAVI
Traffic on the Kusamalli Bridge diversion on River Malaprabha near Jamboti resumed along the Belagavi-Goa Road via Chorla late Monday evening.
The traffic had been stopped by NH authorities from Sunday as part of precautionary safety measures and diverted via Khanapur, as a barrage gate upstream was opened by the irrigation department without intimation.
“As the flow of water released from Malaprabha was expected to rise, we diverted the traffic via Khanapur as a precautionary safety measure,” NH Executive Engineer Rajendra said.
Meanwhile, the concrete slab on the new Kusamalli Bridge was completed last week in record time, as assured by Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan, who was monitoring the work personally. The traffic movement on the new bridge is likely to start within a fortnight.
It may be recalled that the old British-era bridge at Kusamalli was demolished in January to make way for a new and broader bridge. NHAI authorities are being appreciated as the work on the new bridge commenced in February and has been completed within a record period of four months.
“The new bridge is ready and the new slab on the bridge is being cured. It takes about two weeks, and I am glad to inform that the traffic on the new and broader bridge shall commence within a fortnight,” EE Rajendra assured.
