Bantwal, Oct 29: In a bid to address significant disruptions in public transport and worker commutes, local MLAs Dr Bharat Shetty and Rajesh Naik representing Mangaluru North and Bantwal Assembly constituencies respectively met with the Deputy Commissioner to discuss urgent repairs and the construction of new bridges at Pollali and Ulaibettu. Heavy vehicle traffic has been halted on both bridges due to safety concerns, prompting immediate action.

Recent inspections revealed severe structural issues, with Dr Shetty announcing that Rs 6 crore is needed to enhance the load-bearing capacity of the Pollali bridge and an estimated Rs 50 crore for a new structure. Additionally, a minor bridge at Ulaibettu is projected to require Rs 5 crore.

The lawmakers plan to engage with the government soon to secure funding, aiming for swift restoration of bus services. They stressed the importance of monitoring heavy vehicle traffic to ensure safety.

Present at the meeting were local leaders and engineers from the Public Works Department, all committed to resolving the ongoing traffic crisis.