Vital road connectivity to airport cut off as Maravoor bridge sees damage

The vital direct road connectivity between the city and Mangaluru International Airport has been cut off after the foundation of one of the pillars of the major bridge built across the Phalguni river

The vital direct road connectivity between the city and Mangaluru International Airport has been cut off after the foundation of one of the pillars of the major bridge built across the Phalguni river at Maravoor, near the airport, on Mangaluru-Bajpe-Kateel Road sunk early on Tuesday leading to the closure of the road. According to Yashwant Kumar, Executive Engineer, Mangaluru Division of the Public Works Department the foundation has sunk by about two ft. Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada Kota Srinivasa Poojary, who visited the bridge. said that the foundation of pillar No. 8 has sunk. However, alternative routes provided connectivity to the airport. In addition to the airport at Kenjar, the more than 50-year-old bridge which was constructed in 1969 on the State Highway No. 67 (Mangaluru-Athrady) provided shortest and direct road connectivity from the city to Bajpe and Kateel areas. The bridge is 300 mts long.