The state’s longest cable-stayed bridge, which crosses the River Sharavathi’s backwaters, is almost finished and should be opened in the coming months. This important infrastructure project links Tumari with Ambaragodlu in Shivamogga district’s Sagar taluk.

Workers are presently working on asphalting the 2.44-kilometer bridge, with painting and other works expected to be finished by May, according to a story in the Deccan Herald. It is expected that the inauguration will occur around the last week of May or the first week of June. The bridge project would cost around Rs 423 crore in total. In order to set up a time for the inauguration with Union Minister for Road, Transport, and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who placed the bridge’s foundation stone on February 19, 2018, Shivamogga MP BY Raghavendra intends to go to Delhi shortly.

The bridge will probably eliminate the need for launches, or big ferries, which have traditionally been the main form of transportation for the local population. Long boat journeys will no longer be necessary thanks to this new path, which will greatly assist visitors to the Sigandur Chowdeshwari shrine. The new bridge is anticipated to reduce the approximately 80 km of road travel that was previously necessary to go from Sigandur or Tumari to Sagar town in half. It would also significantly cut down on travel time between Sagar and Kollur in the Udupi district.

According to Peer Pasha, the man in charge of the bridge project, cable stressing is necessary to guarantee the structure can hold cars weighing up to 80 tonnes, according to the Deccan Herald story. He noted that because construction trucks had already been utilizing the bridge, trial runs will not be required. Unlike traditional bridges, which usually need around 100 piers, this bridge is constructed on 17 piers and two abutments. By using diagonal cables to carry loads from the deck to the towers, cable-stayed bridges provide more structural rigidity.

MP Raghavendra thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Gadkari for helping to finance the project. Additionally, he indicated intentions to enhance cruise tourism in Sharavathi’s backwaters, adding that attempts are being made to expand this endeavor.