The century-old road bridge over the Malaprabha River near Kusmalli, which stood as a silent witness to the British era and was a vital link between Belagavi and Goa via the Chorla road, is now history. The bridge was demolished on Tuesday to pave the way for a new structure, marking the end of an era.
As the sun set, villagers from Jamboti, Kankumbi, and Kusmalli watched with heavy hearts and teary eyes as the bridge was brought down, which had served countless travellers for decades.
Originally designed for light and medium vehicles, the bridge had weakened over time. The increasing movement of heavy and multi-axle vehicles on the Jamboti-Kusmalli route had exacerbated its deterioration, raising fears of an imminent collapse.
To ensure uninterrupted connectivity, authorities have constructed an asphalted diversion road alongside the old bridge, allowing two-wheelers, cars, and light vehicles to continue their journey. However, the movement of heavy and multi-axle vehicles has been prohibited until the new bridge is completed, requiring them to take the Khanapur route.
Meanwhile, the construction of the new bridge has been taken up on a war footing to complete the project before the onset of monsoon.