Mon Jul 14 07:30:54 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, along with a brief context based on the initial information:

**News Article:**

**Karnataka’s Sagar Taluk Celebrates Opening of Long-Awaited Bridge**

Holebagilu, Shivamogga District, Karnataka – July 14, 2025 – Residents of Sagar taluk in Shivamogga district, Karnataka, are celebrating the dedication of a new cable-stayed bridge across the Sharavati river backwaters. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari officially opened the bridge to the public today, fulfilling a decades-long demand from the local population.

The ₹473 crore project, funded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, connects Kalasavalli and Ambaragodlu, providing vital road connectivity to villages in Karuru and Barangi hoblis. Construction of the Linganmakki dam in the 1960s resulted in communities being cut off and dependent on ferries, with a tragic boat accident in which 21 people died increasing the demands for a new safer connection.

Accompanied by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi, former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, and other dignitaries, Mr. Gadkari highlighted the importance of the bridge in improving the lives of residents and boosting local tourism, especially for those visiting the Chowdeshwari temple at Sigandur. Locals decorated the bridge with mango leaves, reflecting their joy and relief at the completion of the project. The new bridge will significantly reduce travel time for both residents and pilgrims and ensures the connectivity of the area.

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