Shiradi Ghat to be opened for all buses from Oct 3; decision on goods vehicles awaited

Mangaluru, Oct 1: Shiradi Ghat, the crucial link between the coast and Bengaluru that was closed for traffic for a prolonged period due to South West Monsoon rain havoc and frequent landslips, will be reopened for passenger buses on October 3.

The new stretch of the Ghat was closed for all kinds of traffic from August 14 following landslips and was reopened to light motor vehicles from September 5.

Addressing a press conference here, Dakshina Kananda Deputy Commissioner S Sasiknth Senthil said on Monday that the road will be open for heavy passenger vehicles including multi-axle buses from Wednesday.

He said that the district administration would study the fallout of plying of buses on the stretch before it takes a decision to allow goods vehicles.

Police personnel would be deployed round-the-clock at locations where landslides have affected the river embankment to enforce one-way rule, he said.

In fact, ordinary buses, including sleeper coaches and regular goods vehicles, were plying via Charmadi Ghat all these days, despite the Ghat road being in ruins at most of the locations, particularly curves.

However, KSRTC was operating its multi-axle buses via Kudremukh, which used to take 10-11 hours between Bengaluru and Mangaluru as against 7-8 hours via Shiradi Ghat.

There was clamour to open Shiradi Ghat, at least for buses, since passengers as well as bus operators were put to great hardship travelling via Charmadi or Kudremukh Ghats.