Mangaluru : The State Cabinet has approved the project of building a 450 metre-long bridge across Netravathi river that connects Sajipa Nadu and Thumbe near Mangaluru, said Legislative Assembly Speaker and Mangaluru MLA U.T. Khader, here on Saturday.

Speaking with presspersons here, Mr. Khader said the bridge will be built downstream the Thumbe vented dam and upstream the Adyar-Harekala vented-dam-cum-bridge. This bridge is proposed to be constructed at a cost of Rs.62 crore. The bridge will shorten the distance between Sajipa and surrounding areas and Mangaluru

The Cabinet has also approved the project of building a 1.5 km-long bridge across the Netravathi near its mouth with the Arabian Sea that will connect Kotepura in Ullal with Bolar in South Mangaluru. The bridge will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. This bridge will reduce the load of vehicles moving on the Panvel-Kochi National Highway 66 between Pumpwell and Talapady. It will also act as an alternative road to Kerala in case there is traffic hold-up on the NH. The new bridge will be designed in such a way that it will provide opportunity for tourists to stop their vehicles and get a feel of the sea. The connecting roads to the bridge can be developed as corniche roads in future, he said.