Mangaluru : The newly constructed Gurupur bridge across river Phalguni at national highway 169 was inaugurated by Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on July 12, Friday.

DK District in-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary and Mangaluru North MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty and other leaders of BJP party.

Srinivas Poojari expressed his happiness over the fact that the bridge has been completed within 16 months.

MP Nalin Kumar said,  the wew bridge here was a long pending demand. When Mularpatna bridge collapsed, the urgency to replace old Gurupur bridge was taken seriously and it was decided to construct a new bridge at a cost of Rs 39.42 crore.

The foundation stone for the bridge was laid in February 2019 and it was supposed to be completed by February 2021. The bridge constructed at  16 meters wide and 175 meters long. Footpath of 2.5 metre width has been provided with a connecting road that is 11 metres wide.

The old bridge was built in 1923 and since the last 10 to 15 years, it had become bad condition for vehicular movement.