Did Karnataka’s Gadkari Truly Dedicate the Sigandur Bridge to the Nation?

Shivamogga (Karnataka), July 14 (NationPress) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, alongside Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution, and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, ceremoniously dedicated the Sigandur project to the nation this Monday.

During the ceremony, BJP MP B. Y. Raghavendra highlighted, "This is the nation’s second-largest connectivity bridge, linking Ambaragodlu, Kalasavalli, Sigandur, and Kollur (locally referred to as the 'Holebagilu' bridge).

The bridge spans the Sharavati River and stands as a significant achievement in the Malenadu region of Karnataka. This remarkable cable-supported bridge stretches 2.25 km and was constructed using advanced technology, with funding amounting to approximately Rs 423 crore, he stated.

"Today, this historic project has been dedicated to the nation. It signifies a permanent resolution after six decades of relentless effort by those affected by floods," he remarked.

In response to the pleas of the flood-affected community over the past sixty years, the central government allocated around Rs 423 crore in funding, realizing this dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.

MP Raghavendra emphasized that this monumental event is a testament to the unwavering determination of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and the collective support from the community. The Malenadu region stands as a witness to this achievement, he noted.

This also conveys to the nation that the central government is a responsive administration, quick to heed the calls of its citizens, Raghavendra remarked.

Moreover, it upholds the tradition of completing projects within the designated time frame and inaugurating them during its tenure, thereby creating history, he said.

This bridge will not only alleviate the long-standing issues faced by the flood-affected residents of Sharavathi’s hinterland but will also strengthen connections between the Malenadu and coastal districts. Additionally, it will enhance economic activities, tourism, and the blending of diverse cultures between the two districts, signaling the dawn of a new era, Raghavendra noted.

This is a historic moment, destined to be remembered in golden letters, said MP Raghavendra. He expressed profound gratitude to Prasanna Kerekarai and the countless others who have fought for this cause over decades.

The inauguration of the 2.12-kilometer-long Sigandur Bridge, developed at a cost of Rs 473 crore, has sparked controversy after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed that proper protocol was not observed and declared that no local Ministers or MLAs from the state government would attend the ceremony.

In a statement to reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, CM Siddaramaiah accused the Centre of instigating the conflict.

In response to the concerns raised by Siddaramaiah regarding being overlooked by the Centre in the invitation to the Sigandur cable bridge project inauguration, the Centre clarified that the Chief Minister was invited to the event on June 11 and was asked to preside over the program.

The Karnataka BJP criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s absence from the Sigandur Bridge inauguration as ‘pettiness’. The party further questioned, "Does it hurt that the BJP accomplished what Congress failed to do in 60 years?"