Shiradi Ghat may be kept open during second phase work.

Shiradi Ghat on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru national highway is unlikely to be closed to traffic when the second phase of concreting work will be taken up, Minister Ramanath Rai has said.

Addressing presspersons at the site of under-progress work recently, he said that the first phase of concreting a 13-km stretch of the highway between Maranahalli and Kempu Hole (central part of the Ghat section) would be over by May-end and traffic would be allowed from June.

The contractor for taking up the second phase of work for another 13-km stretch between Kempu Hole and Adda Hole (down stream of the Ghat towards Mangaluru side) was yet to be selected. As this stretch was wide, works could be taken up without closing the traffic. Works could be taken up on one side and traffic could be allowed on the other side, he said.

The Minister said that another 21-km stretch between Maranahalli and Gulagalale (near Sakaleshpur) would be asphalted after selecting the contractor.

THE HINDU