Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 8: In a spectacular feat of engineering set to reshape coastal connectivity, Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) is preparing to undertake the massive lifting of a 900-tonne bowstring girder for the ambitious Sulthan Bathery–Tannirbavi bridge project.

The operation, considered one of the most technically demanding phases of the project, involves raising a colossal 100-metre-long steel girder from the bed of the Phalguni (Gurpur) river and positioning it atop the bridge piers with extreme precision.

Officials said the gigantic structure will be lifted nearly 11 metres above the river surface before being carefully aligned and lowered into place.

K Arun Prabha, general manager (Technical) of MSCL, said the entire process is expected to take around two weeks, while the critical jacking operation alone may continue for nearly six days.

Authorities are racing against time to complete the procedure and remove the temporary coffer bund before the arrival of the monsoon to ensure uninterrupted movement of boats through the river channel.

Bridge to transform coastal access

The Rs 64-crore Smart City project is expected to become a landmark infrastructure development for the region. Stretching nearly one kilometre including approach roads, the bridge will feature a nine-metre-wide roadway along with dedicated pedestrian pathways.

Designed in accordance with National Waterway-43 standards, the bridge will offer a vertical clearance of 10 metres and an 80-metre navigation span, allowing smooth passage for river traffic.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Sulthan Bathery and Tannirbavi, providing residents of the Bengre peninsula with direct mainland access.

At present, commuters rely heavily on ferry services or lengthy road journeys through Kulur and Panambur.

The project is also expected to provide a major boost to tourism by improving access to Tannirbavi beach, one of Mangaluru’s prominent coastal attractions.

Having already secured environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone clearances earlier this year, the long-pending bridge project is now steadily moving towards completion, promising to redefine mobility and development along the coastal belt.