While old bridges along the major state and national highways, most of which were constructed during the British era, are posing a threat to the commuters, yet another bridge constructed post British era in Khanapur taluka is posing a serious threat to commuters from Goa and north Karnataka.
BELAGAVI
The old bridge near Linganmath village along the Goa-Ramnagar-Dharwad State Highway 34 is posing danger to lives of commuters due its dilapidated condition. This is the only bridge that connects north Karnataka to Goa via Ramnagar.
According to residents of Linganmath who have submitted several memorandums to the authorities, the work on a bridge parallel to the damaged one on the same highway has been taken up. However, the contractors have failed to complete it during the stipulated period, forcing commuters from Karnataka and Goa to commute over the old damaged bridge.
“The contractors from GVR company are neither completing the work on the new bridge nor have they repaired the old bridge, thus risking the safety of commuters. The safety railings too are damaged, severely leading to several accidents and leaving many vehicles damaged and commuters injured,” president of Linganmath gram panchayat Dr K B Hiremath told media persons after submitting a memorandum to the authorities.
Commuters from Dharwad, Alnawar, Halyal, Belagavi and Goa travel along this route. Leaders of various political parties have warned the authorities to take up the repairs of the old bridge and construct the new bridge at the earliest in the interest of commuters.
Residents in Khanapur taluka have also warned of an agitation in case the pending work is not completed immediately and the old bridge repaired. Meanwhile, sources in GVR company said they were expecting a road toll of over Rs 3 lakh per day when the contract was signed to construct the road and bridge, but now they are finding it difficult even to reach Rs 1 lakh per day, due to which the work on the new bridge is pending.
