Karnataka CM assures to step up Bairakuppe bridge project
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has assured that steps would be taken to expedite the long-pending Bairakuppe bridge project connecting Kerala and Karnataka, state PWD Minister P K Basheer said on Sunday.
Basheer said Shivakumar conveyed the assurance during a meeting held in Bengaluru and informed him that the proposal would soon be placed before the Karnataka Cabinet.
The proposed interstate bridge across the Kabani River would connect Perikkalloor in Kerala’s Wayanad district with Bairakuppe in Karnataka’s Kodagu district.
According to a statement issued by Basheer, Shivakumar said directions had already been issued to initiate the required procedures for the project.
The bridge project has remained pending for several decades despite receiving approvals at various levels.
The foundation stone for the bridge was jointly laid on September 22, 1994, by the then chief ministers of Kerala (K Karunakaran) and Karnataka (Veerappa Moily).
The Union Ministry of Surface Transport had granted in-principle approval for the project in March 2002.
While the approach road on the Kerala side has already been completed, the project remains stalled due to the pending construction of the approach road on the Karnataka side.
According to the statement, Shivakumar told Basheer that completion of the bridge would provide a permanent solution to several long-standing connectivity issues and benefit people in both states.
Basheer said the bridge would improve access for residents of border villages in Karnataka to hospitals, educational institutions and airports in Kannur, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
He said the project would also promote tourism and enhance agricultural and business opportunities in Kodagu district and other parts of Karnataka.
The minister said the bridge would provide an alternative route connecting Pulpally, Sulthan Bathery, Kalpetta and Kozhikode with Mysuru and Bengaluru.
The route would help bypass restrictions on night travel through the Bandipur forest stretch on National Highway 766 and significantly improve transportation between the two states.
According to Basheer, the project would reduce the distance between Bengaluru and Sulthan Bathery and substantially cut travel time.
The statement said Shivakumar had assured that the concerned departments would be directed to expedite land acquisition for the approach road and issue the required no-objection certificates for the project.
It also noted that Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had earlier written to the Kerala and Karnataka governments seeking steps to expedite the project.
