Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari speaking at a programme to mark the inauguration of the Sigandur bridge and other works at Sagar in Shivamogga on Monday. He was accompanied by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi, former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, former Minister Kagodu Thimmappa, and others.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Stating that he was fortunate to get the opportunity to inaugurate the bridge across Sharavati backwaters, for which he laid the foundation stone six years ago, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced that the structure would be named after Sigandur Chowdeshwari.

Addressing the gathering in a programme organised to mark the dedication of the bridge to the nation in Sagar on Monday, Mr. Gadkari, tracing the history of the project, said that when the proposal came before him, the estimated cost of the bridge was very high and the structure was necessary considering the difficulties faced by the people.

“A decision was taken to upgrade the road into a national highway, and still there were many hiccups in taking up the project. However, with the blessings of Matha Chowdeshwari the project has been completed. Now, I announce that from now on, the bridge will be called Sigandur Chowdeshwari Bridge,” he said.

Referring to the achievements of his department, Mr. Gadkari said when Narendra Modi-led government came to power in 2014, the total length of the national highway in Karnataka was 6,770 km. By 2025, the length had gone up to 9,424 km. “At present, projects worth ₹3 lakh crores are in progress at different stages, and it has been decided that projects worth ₹5 lakh crores and schemes will be taken up in the State in the next five years,” he said.

His Ministry, Mr. Gadkari said, had taken up the connecting Kashmir and Kanyakumari by a new road. “It will reduce between Delhi and southern States. As much as 73% of the highway work has been completed. And, this will be completed by March 2026,” he said.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi recalled his visit to the Sagar taluk years ago, when he too faced difficulties. “I thank people who fought for the bridge and Mr. Gadkari realised the dream of the local residents”, he said. Mr. Joshi also appreciated the efforts of MP for Shivamogga B.Y. Raghavendra in getting development works sanctioned for his constituency.

Mr. Raghavendra thanked Mr. Gadkari for sanctioning the bridge, which had been a dream project of the local residents. The programme to dedicate the bridge to the nation was organised in a hurry, as there was a chance of the people facing trouble with the heavy rains. “In the absence of the bridge, the residents were dependent on the ferries. However, operating them would be impossible if the water level increased in the dam. Hence, the bridge was inaugurated so that the people enjoy its benefits in the present rainy season itself,” he said.

He urged the Union Minister to sanction the Agumbe Ghat tunnel project and upgrade the road connecting Hosapete and Balehonnur via Shivamogga as a national highway.

Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, former Minister Kagodu Thimmappa, Lok Sabha members Kota Srinivasa Poojari, Captain Brijesh, BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra, legislators Araga Jnanendra, Gururaj Ghantiholi, S.N. Channabasappa, Cement manju, and others were present.

Works

The Union Minister dedicated to the nation the widening and improvement of Bidar–Humnabad stretch of the NH-50 completed at a cost of ₹345 crore; four-lane railway overbridge, two-lane bridge in Kalaburagi–Yadgiri stretch of NH-150 built at a cost of ₹65 crore; seven minor bridges from Mani to Sampaji on NH-275 at a cost of ₹52 crore; the restoration of Shiradi Ghat of NH-75 at a cost of ₹41 crore; and two-lane stretch from Bhanapur–Gaddanakeri stretch on NH-367 at a cost of ₹173 crore.

He laid the foundation stones for the construction of the four-lane ROB at Wadi on NH-150 at a cost of ₹88 crore, the construction of a retaining wall from Sampaje to Kushanalanagara on NH-275 at a cost of ₹94 crore, and additional works to ensure road safety for the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru access-controlled section of NH-275 at ₹712 crore.