Shiradi ghat ready, may open in 15 days
Shiradi Ghat (DK/Hassan dist), DHNS: The second phase of the concretisation of Shiradi Ghat was completed on Thursday night, 10 months ahead of schedule. Mangaluru-based Ocean Constructions India Pvt Ltd was set a deadline of April 9, 2019 to complete the 12.38-km stretch (Kemphole to Addahole).
However, work on the shoulder, guard walls, drainage and curing for the freshly laid concrete stretches will take a minimum of 15 days, according to sources.
With deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil too not keen on opening the Shiradi stretch till the completion of work on shoulders and guard walls, at least in critical points where accidents can prove fatal, it appears the stretch may not open before July 15.
However, assistant executive engineer T S Prasanna Kumar, National Highway subdivision (Sakleshpur) told DH at the project site that eight teams are at work and each team has been given a target to build 50 metres of guard wall every day, by offering them double pay, to ensure the ghat can be opened at the earliest.
The 8.5-metre wide and 12.38-km long concretisation work costing Rs 61.57 crore commenced on January 12, 2018. Following pressure from authorities, concretisation work was completed in less than six months.
Mud wall
A mud wall has been built around 12 km after Gundia near Kemphole to prevent vehicles on the stretch. As a result, even a KSRP bus and an ambulance had to return from Gundia on Friday.
29,000 cubic metre gravel
Sources in the NH said that 29,000 cubic metres of gravel is required to complete shoulder works along the 12-km stretch. As the gravel laid on a few stretches failed the optimum moisture content test, it is being removed and fresh gravel brought from 50 km away is being laid. “A total of 17 tippers will be reserved for it from June 30,” said an official.
July 5 deadline?
As rains played spoilsport, work on concretisation was delayed, said another official and added that they lost six precious days during elections and Ramzan, when many workers went home. “During the period, there was no rain and work could have been completed,” opined an official.
Hence, the July 5 deadline set by PWD Minister H D Revanna could not be met.
“Though Revanna had said that the Shiradi ghat will be opened for vehicular movement on July 5, the road could not be opened despite completion of concrete works since the absence of guard walls between the river (Kemphole) and the road,” said Senthil.
Phase II of Shiradi ghat work was delayed as the contractor (Chennai-based GVR Infra Project Pvt Ltd) did not start work even after the deadline. Hence, the agreement was scrapped in January 2017 and work handed over to Ocean Constructions, who had completed Phase I (13.62 km) (Heggadde/Marenahalli to Kemphole), also in record time in 2015.
Wild animals common
Speaking to DH, one of the engineers at the site said that he has encountered a herd of eight elephants including two adults, a lone elephant, a leopard cub, fox, a couple of snakes and leeches. “Ever since I spotted a leopard cub, I stopped using my bike on the stretch,” he said.
Charmadi ghat may be closed
Stating that the NH has submitted a Rs 250-crore proposal to Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to widen the Charmadi ghat to two lanes, NH AEE T S Prasanna Kumar said that once the ministry approves it, work on road will be taken up. Though the estimated period for the project is 30 months, the ghat may be completely closed for a few months when it becomes unavoidable.
