Snapped footbridge lengthens the journey of Ullal Hoige residents
The Hindu
Residents of Ullal Hoige forced to take detour after footbridge collapse; erstwhile BJP govt sanctioned ₹2.5 crore for construction of concrete bridge; local residents approached regional CZMA; CZMA decided to allow contractor to repair damaged footbridge & connecting path; hope govt takes it up soon.
Hundreds of residents of Ullal Hoige and surrounding areas on the southern bank of Netravathi have been forced to take a detour via Thokkottu to get a bus to the city after a footbridge across the backwaters of Netravathi collapsed here recently.
The footbridge linked the short-cut walking route for residents, who crossed the Mangaluru Central-Shoranur Railway line and the Netravathi backwaters to reach National Highway 66 near the Netravathi bridge. They used to board or alight from buses to and from the city.
Made of iron scaffolding and iron sheets, the footbridge had become weak over the years due to the strong water currents during high and low tides of the Arabian Sea. Residents said they had almost abandoned using the short-cut for the last four months as it had become weak and a fortnight ago, it collapsed.
The erstwhile BJP government had sanctioned ₹2.5 crore to the Public Works Department for the construction of a 7.5 m wide concrete bridge and a connecting road for the residents.
While the contractor was dumping soil on a portion of the backwaters abutting NH 66 for road formation, some local residents approached the regional coastal zone management authority complaining the area falls under the CRZ limits. Authority officials found that the location was covered with mangroves and the project in the proposed shape could be undertaken.
Mangaluru South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath alleged that the ruling party supporters were behind stalling the work. “This work was among the several in his constituency for which the government has now stopped funding.”
Upon PWD’s recent application to CZMA for clearing the project, the officials said it would damage the mangroves with the road formation.
While residents are worried over deaths due to diarrhoea in Vijayawada, officials still grapple to find the root cause. Contaminated drinking water supplied by VMC officials is the reason, insist people in the affected areas, but officials insist that efforts are on to identify the disease and that those with symptoms other than diarrhoea too are visiting the health camps.