Belagavi-Goa Chorla Road Closed Again After Sinkhole Near Bridge
The Belagavi-Goa route via Chorla has been closed for the second time in 15 days after a sinkhole appeared near the under-construction bridge at Kasamalagi.
Two weeks ago, traffic was stopped due to flooding caused by heavy rains, but resumed after a week. Now, it’s closed again, and repair work is in progress.
The Malaprabha River’s water level is rising due to continuous rains in the Western Ghats. When the gate near the under-construction bridge was opened to release excess water, the road got washed away, causing sinkholes to form.
As a result, traffic is now diverted via Khanapur, adding 15 km more to the journey for those travelling between Belagavi and Goa.
According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the new bridge is almost ready, with the concrete slab already laid. It will be 12 metres wide and support two-way traffic.
However, locals say the construction is going very slowly. Former Zilla Panchayat member Jairam Desai said that the slow progress is troubling over 30 nearby villages, and urged the government to speed up the work to avoid further issues.
NHAI engineer Rajendra confirmed the diversion is for safety reasons because the water level near the bridge is high, and the temporary road is risky for vehicles. He assured the inconvenience would be temporary.
Source: TOI
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