A pedestrian-only hanging bridge between Sultan Battery and Tannirbhavi, across the Phalguni river, is going to be a reality soon, as it’s a long wait and wishes for Mangaloreans to have a hanging bridge out there.
The Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) has earmarked Rs 45 crore for the project, which was planned two decades ago. In fact, the then chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had laid the foundation stone for a hanging bridge at Sultan Battery in August 2010, it was not completed even after another foundation ceremony was held in 2013. Though the construction began in 2012, it was shelved because of a shortage of funds.
Recently, the MSCL has decided to construct the hanging bridge under its Sea Link project, which will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 84 crore. Whereas the hanging bridge will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 45 crore, the remaining funds under the Sea Link project will be utilised for the implementation of various tourism development initiatives at Sultan Battery, Tannirbhavi and at the jetties in the area. The hanging bridge will be constructed at a location near the historic Sultan Battery watchtower. Once the bridge is constructed, tourists arriving at Sultan Battery may walk on the hanging bridge to Tannirbavi Beach on the western side.
MSCL general manager Arun Prabha told that a 260m long hanging bridge with a 3m wide pedestrian pass will be constructed at a height of 15m, to connect Sultan Battery and Tannirbavi. “The bridge will be designed by the agency that bags the tender on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model. A three-month time frame has been given for the contractor to prepare the design, and the work should be completed in another 12 months,” he added.
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