BELAGAVI
Commuters between Belagavi and Goa had a tough time on Monday night as the narrow and dilapidated British era Kusmalli bridge near Jamboti was blocked by two multi-axle trucks that got stuck on the bridge.
Traffic on the Belagavi-Goa road via Chorla was held up late Monday night as two multi-axle trucks trying to cross the bridge entered the narrow bridge and got stuck on the old Kusmalli bridge.
After a heavy traffic jam, vehicles had to take an alternative route via the Khanapur-Jamboti road till Tuesday morning, covering an additional distance of about 30 kms. The two trucks were removed on Tuesday morning and traffic resumed along the route.
The incident has prompted concerns and queries among commuters, especially since multi-axle vehicles have been banned from moving on this route by Goan and Karnataka authorities.
Locals who had tough time in reaching Belagavi lamented that their appeals and pleas to get the old and dilapidated British era bridge reconstructed and to stop the movement of heavy vehicles along this route have fallen on deaf ears. They also demanded action against the drivers of these trucks.
“Despite a ban, who is allowing heavy vehicles to ply on this route? The bridge has become weak and may collapse any day,” said Kiran Gaude, a social activist from Kankumbi.
Gaude insisted that officials from Karnataka and Goa should take a serious note of the illegal movement of heavy vehicles along this route.
Meanwhile, irate villagers in the locality have questioned the elected representatives from Belagavi and Khanapur for failing to get the bridge reconstructed and wondered if they were waiting for a major accident to happen.
