Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jun 16: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, said that a committee of experts will consider all the aspects and submit a report within two days as to whether the damaged Maravoor bridge has to be reconstructed or repair works will suffice. He said that the bridge, which suffered a depression on Tuesday, would be dealt with as per the advice of the experts and the grant needed for the same would be got released by taking up the matter with the chief minister.
Speaking after checking the crack developed in the bridge, he said that a sum of Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned to develop the bridge into a four-lane road and that a new bridge is already under construction by the side of the current bridge. He said that the officials have been instructed to speed up the work and see that it is completed by February next.
He said that it was decided to take up repair of the old bridge after the new bridge is built, as otherwise traffic on this stretch would have to be barred for three months pending repairs. He said now that the bridge is damaged, experts committee will decide the future course.
After the pillar - 8 of Maravoor bridge on national highway 67 sunk three feet down, crack has appeared. He said that using the bridge for vehicular traffic now is unsafe and therefore traffic has been suspended.