Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal
Bantwal, Jan 10: The long-pending dream of completing the Souharda Bridge across the Netravati river, which aims to connect two major religious centres in Bantwal taluk, has shown signs of revival after officials assured that the stalled project would be completed by March next year. With this assurance, hopes have been rekindled among villagers in the region.
A delegation led by Sarapadi Valaya Raithara Hitharakshana Sangha president Sarapadi Ashok Shetty and vice-president N Adam Kunja held detailed discussions with technical officials of KRDCL and heads of the contractor’s technical division during a visit to the bridge construction site recently.
During the interaction, officials reportedly assured that the work would be completed by the end of March. The delegation also included Kuduru Balakrishna Poojary, Purushottam Poojary Majalu, Cherimone Ajilamogaru Gandi, Prakash Bollukallu, Gopala Poojary Kinil, Praveen Bollukallu and others.
It may be recalled that the bridge and approach road project across the Netravati river, connecting the historic Ajilamogaru mosque frontage with Kadeshwalya Sri Lakshminarasimha temple, was conceptualised and the foundation stone was laid in 2017. However, the project has remained incomplete and has been stalled for years.
The Souharda Bridge project, envisioned by then minister B Ramanath Rai to connect the two religious centres, received an allocation of Rs 19.84 crore from the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL).
The project involves the construction of a 312-metre-long and 10.50-metre-wide bridge from Ajilamogaru to Kadeshwalya, along with a 378-metre-long approach road. The contract was awarded to Chennai-based SPL Company. Although an agreement was signed to complete and inaugurate the project in 2021, the work progressed at a slow pace due to labour shortages during the Covid period. Later, the contracting agency assured completion within the next two years, but the project still remains unfinished.
On one side of the district’s lifeline river Netravati stands the historic Sri Lakshminarasimha temple, while on the other side is the Ajilamogaru Juma Masjid, known for its harmonious background. Currently, access to Ajilamogaru mosque requires travelling via the Bantwal–Mani–Sarapadi–Allipade road, while devotees heading to the Kadeshwalya shrine must take a longer route through the BC Road–Uppinangady National Highway and Gadiyar road.
Once the bridge is completed, it will significantly reduce travel time and provide easier access to several areas including Navoor, Maninalkur, Sarapadi, Kadeshwalya, Budoli, Barimaru, Uppinangady in Puttur taluk, and Tekkara, Barya, Tanneerupanta and surrounding regions of Beltangady taluk.
Locals had earlier submitted a representation to district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, seeking completion of the project. Acting on his instructions, then deputy commissioner Mullai Mugilan had conducted a site inspection and directed the concerned department to complete the work, but the effort did not yield results. Following the transfer of Mullai Mugilan, the Souharda Bridge work remained stagnant.
Now, local farmers and residents have intensified pressure on officials and elected representatives, demanding that the long-pending bridge project be completed at the earliest.