Sat May 03 10:54:46 UTC 2025: ## Long-Awaited Bridge Across Sharavati Backwaters in Shivamogga Set to Open
**SHIVAMOGGA, Karnataka –** A long-awaited bridge spanning the Sharavati backwaters in Shivamogga district, Karnataka, is nearing completion and is expected to open during the upcoming monsoon season. The 2,140-meter cable-stayed bridge, costing ₹456.67 crore, connects Ambaragodlu and Kalasavalli villages, significantly reducing travel time to Sigandur, home to the famed Chowdeshwari temple.
For decades, residents of Karuru and Barangi hoblis have relied on ferries, which cease operation in the evenings, creating difficulties, especially during medical emergencies. The construction of the Linganmakki dam in the 1960s severed road connectivity, leading to this longstanding demand for a bridge. The new structure, designated National Highway 369E by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, features an 11-meter-wide carriageway with two lanes and 1.5-meter footpaths on either side.
Shivamogga Lok Sabha member B.Y. Raghavendra stated that the project is in its final stages and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari also attending. Mr. Raghavendra, who had requested the Prime Minister’s presence, plans to retain the existing ferry service as a tourist attraction.
Former minister Kagodu Thimmappa lauded the project’s completion, thanking Minister Gadkari for its sanction. The bridge is seen as a major improvement for the area’s residents who have faced transportation difficulties for over six decades. The foundation stone was laid by Mr. Gadkari in February 2018.
First Piper 