Udupi : Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports Pramod Madhwaraj said on Wednesday that the construction of the long-awaited Malpe-Padukere Bridge connecting Malpe Fisheries Harbour with Padukere was in the final stages and it would be inaugurated in the second week of March.

People of Padukere village have been using traditional boats to cross the Udyavara rivulet to reach Malpe and vice-versa for years.

The alternative is to take the road, in which case they would have to travel about 18 km to reach Malpe.

But the construction of this bridge is expected to do away with people’s dependence on boat service and provide faster road connectivity between the two places.

Speaking to press persons after inspecting the construction of the bridge, Mr. Madhwaraj said that though the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government had approved the project, it was after the Congress government came to power in the State that the change of design of the bridge was approved and the project monitoring committee formed.

The funds required for the bridge too were provided. The first instalment of funds was released in October 2013. A sum of Rs 13.5 crore had been spent for the construction of the bridge.

The width of the bridge was increased from 4.2 metres to 5.25 metres. The concreting works of the bridge is expected to be completed by February 25. The painting and curing work would take another 10 days. “We will inaugurate this bridge here on March 11,” he said.

The cost of the bridge has escalated by Rs 3.5 crore and it would be approved by the Cabinet. Once it is approved, the money would be provided to Yojaka India Pvt. Ltd. which was constructing the bridge. “Some people are raising the issue of delay in construction for political purposes,” he said.

The approach road to the bridge has been constructed in Padukere at a cost of Rs 50 lakh, while another one has been constructed on the other side at Malpe at a cost of Rs 60 lakh. Padukere Beach would be brought under the Malpe Beach Development Committee.

“After the construction of this bridge, Padukere Beach, which is a virgin beach, will be developed into a major tourist centre,” Mr. Madhwaraj said.