Work on the Kusmalli bridge being taken up on war footing. Louis Rodrigues
THE GOAN NETWORK
BELAGAVI
While work to re-tar the Belagavi-Panaji NH748AA via Chorla is in its final stages and laying the wearing course layer (second layer) is still in progress, Karnataka PWD and NHAI authorities have also taken up the completion of the bridge near Kankumbi on war footing.
The century-old bridge on River Malaprabha between Jamboti and Kusmalli had become weak after providing a vital link between Belagavi and Goa.
The narrow bridge that was in a dilapidated condition was demolished in January this year to make way for the new broader and taller bridge to enable smooth passage of traffic movement.
According to NHAI Project Director Bhuvanesh Kumar, work on the new bridge is likely to be completed by mid-May in the wake of an early onset of monsoon as River Malaprabha gets flooded thereafter.
He also said that the first layer of asphalting has been completed on the Kinaye to Chorla stretch of about 43.5 kms and 10 kms of the second layer is also completed, while the entire work will be completed by mid-April.
“We have completed the Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) that is the first layer of asphalting for entire stretch from Kinaye to Chorla while the second layer which is also known as wearing course is also being laid for more smoother travel and durability of the road,” Kumar said.
He also ascertained that the construction of the bridge near Kusmalli has been taken up on war footing with a target of completing the same before monsoons.
Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan is personally monitoring the work progress, Kumar said.
Meanwhile, commuters are experiencing a more comfortable travel via Chorla due to which the number of Goans visiting Belagavi is rising gradually.
The Karnataka side of the Belagavi-Goa Road which was a traveller’s nightmare for a number of years is gradually becoming the most preferred travel route.
