Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Jun 15: Overflowing of water in streams and rivers is a common sight during monsoon. But the negligence of Udupi City Municipality Council led to the collapse of bridge near Kalsanka junction here on June 12. This has resulted in heavy traffic jams. During monsoon, people face threat of land sliding near the bridge.
Kalsanka junction witnesses heavy traffic movement especially in the morning and evening. Four roads meet here creating a bottleneck situation. The junction leads to Manipal, Kalsanka-Ambagilu, Main bus stand of the city, parking slot of Sri Krishna Math and Vidyodaya School. At peak hours, commuters in this junction struggle.
A proposal to widen the bridge was made few years ago which got approved only two months earlier at a cost of Rs 75 lac. The work on the bridge started by CMC and national highway department jointly was stopped following the assembly elections. Another bridge on the side of the road leading to Sri Krishna Math has the same fate with works abruptly stopped.
The main reason for all incomplete and lackluster works is said to be the negligence of Udupi CMC and the shortage of workers. The work done so far with the fund granted for the project by CMC is not satisfactory. The worst affected are two wheeler riders.
Without constructing the margin on both the sides of the road towards Udupi Krishna Math, it is very dangerous for vehicles. To avoid any damage, temporary work was undertaken by the CMC. They laid stones on the side wall.
Locals in the area said that it was merely done to showcase their work. Barricades were installed on the margin of the bridge, which was not a permanent solution for the problem.
Traffic police have started signal operations at the bottleneck junction. But pedestrians still struggle to cross the road. During night, traffic police put up barricades at the junction for smooth flow of traffic and vehicles are supposed to take a U-turn at Kadiyali junction.
During heavy downpour, the area sees landslides frequently. Despite the barricades, there are chances of accidents in the area.
The CMC engineer has promised that they would take up construction work after the monsoon ends.
Locals say that by then it might claim several lives at the dangerous spot. The CMC must take some responsibilities and avoid any such mishaps in the coming days.