Bridge between Ullal and Mangaluru may become reality

MANGALURU: The long-pending demand of the people of Ullal, to have direct road connectivity to Mangaluru city via Kotepura and Bolar, by building a bridge across the Netravati River has got revived, with the government deciding to consider the proposal again.
Mangaluru MLA UT Khader has urged the government to consider the proposal of constructing a bridge that will help fishermen and others from the Ullal coast to reach Mangaluru city, without travelling on the national highway. The public works department (PWD) has decided to forward the project to the finance department again for approval, said Khader.
Posing a question to PWD minister CC Patil in the assembly session, Khader sought information as to whether the government has plans to construct a bridge between Kotepura and Mangaluru. “A proposal to construct a bridge across the Netravati River, from Kotepura in Ullal, to Bolar in Mangaluru city, is a much-needed infrastructure project for fishermen and the public.
In fact, there were barges between Kotepura and Bolar, to ferry people and goods in the 1970s, but it was stopped after the commissioning of the national highway. The traffic density on the national highway between Thokkotu and Ullal has increased considerably nowadays.
Traffic snarls on the national highway that connects Kerala and Karnataka, has been affecting the movement of vehicles. A parallel bridge from Kotepura to Bolar will solve the problem.
The government had prepared an estimate for the proposed bridge, and the same was sent to the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL). However, the project is pending, due to lack of approval from the finance department,” Khader said, and requested the PWD to expedite the project.
Patil said that the question raised by Khader was relevant, and that the government will consider it on priority. “The finance department has stated in its reply, that the proposal has been examined.
However, the outstanding commitments of KRDCL are already very high. Hence, the department has advised not to take up or approve any works, till the previous works are completed and closed financially. We will submit the proposal to the finance department again, and try to take it up,” the minister said.