Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Jun 17: The movement of light vehicles has been permitted on the Balebare Ghat stretch of State Highway-52 connecting Thirthahalli and Kundapur. Udupi deputy commissioner Swaroop T K has issued an order allowing vehicular movement on the route.

Traffic of all categories of vehicles had been banned on the stretch after heavy rains at the end of May triggered a soil slip beneath the concrete road at the hairpin bend between chainage 42.10 and 42.20 of the Balebare (Hulikal) Ghat road.

Authorities have now completed partial restoration work at the affected hairpin bend by constructing a retaining wall up to road level with earth filling and laying lean concrete on the damaged section.

Considering public convenience, permission has been granted for the movement of buses, passenger vehicles and light goods vehicles on the road. The Shivamogga district administration had already issued a similar order allowing light vehicle movement on the Balebare Ghat road.

According to the order issued by the Udupi deputy commissioner, the ghat section between chainage 44.60 and 53.00 on State Highway-52 falls under the jurisdiction of the Kundapur subdivision of the Public Works Department. To facilitate passenger travel, buses, other passenger vehicles and light goods vehicles have been allowed to use the route from June 15 onwards.