Mangaluru: The Shiradi Ghat stretch of National Highway 75 will be closed for about five months from January 2 to facilitate strengthening and concreting work at the cost of about Rs. 155 crore.
Chairing the meeting with officers of NHAI, district in-charge minister said that the project includes strengthening of a 21-km stretch and concreting another 26-km stretch. Hence, the department has taken up the work in two packages, he said.
Among the two, tender process for the first package pertaining to a 13-km stretch from 237km (Heggadde) to 250.62km (Kempu Hole forest guesthouse) has been awarded to Ocean Constructions, Mangaluru. The project has been estimated to cost Rs. 69 crore. The work has already begun and will be completed by May, the minister said.
The second package of strengthening and concreting of the remaining 47-km-stretch has been estimated to cost Rs. 85.28 crores. Out of the 47km stretch, 21km (Kempu Hole forest guesthouse and Adda Hole) will be tarred while a 26 km stretch (Heggadde to Gulagalale) will be concretized. The tendering is in process and the work will start by January end.
Alternative roads
The national highway connecting Mangaluru and Bengaluru via Shiradi Ghat is a very busy stretch with heavy traffic density. The alternative roads are as follows:
Category ‘A’ vehicles: Ordinary buses, car, jeep, van, two wheeler and LCV (mini-van).
Category ‘B’ vehicles: Heavy commercial vehicles, two axle trucks/tanker, multi axle truck/truck trailer/tanker, Rajahamsa and Airavat buses.
Hassan – Mangaluru stretch
Category ‘A’ vehicles: -Hassan – Belur – Mudigere – Charmadi Ghat – Belthangady – Ujire – BC Roard – Mangauru. Hassan – Sakleshpur – Anemahal – Haanbal – Jannapura – Mudigere – Charmadi Ghat – Ujire – BC Road – Mangaluru. Hassan – Holensarasipura – K.R Nagara – Hunsur – Madikeri – Puttur – Mani – BC Road – Mangaluru.
Category ‘B’ vehicles: -Hassan – Holenarasipura – KR Nagara – Hunsur – Madieri – Puttur – Mani – BC Road – Mangaluru.
Bengaluru – Mangaluru stretch
Category ‘A and B’ vehicles: Excluding bullet tankers, ship cargo, containers, long chassis vehicles : Alternative route via Bengaluru – Ramanagar – Mandya – Mysore – Hunsur – Madikeri – Puttur – Mani – BC Road – Mangaluru.
Category ‘B’ vehicles: including bullet tankers, ship cargo, containers, long chassis vehicles: Alternative route via Bengaluru – Nelamangala – Tiptur – Shimoga – Sagara – Honnavara – Murdeshwara – Bhatkal – Kundapura – Udupi – Surathkal – Mangaluru.
Bengaluru – Udupi stretch
Alternative route: via Bengaluru – Hassan – Blur – Mudigere – Kottigehara – Kalasa – Kudremukha – Malaghat – Karkala – Udupi.
Category ‘B’ vehicles: via Bengaluru – Shimoga – Ayanur – Hosanagara – Mastikatte – Balebare Ghat – Hosangadi – Siddapura – Kundapura – Udupi.
