News: Recently, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has inaugurated the cable-stayed bridge built over the Sharavati river backwaters in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district, Karnataka.
About Sigandur Bridge
- The Sigandur Bridge is located in Shivamogga district, Karnataka.
- It is India’s second longest inland cable-stayed bridge, spanning a total length of 2.25 kilometres.
- This is the first extradosed balanced cantilever bridge in Karnataka.
- The bridge is expected to give a major boost to tourism, especially by improving connectivity to the temple town of Sigandur, a popular pilgrimage site.
- It will also enhance the local economy by providing faster, more reliable transportation and better road access to the Malnad region, supporting both livelihood and trade.
About Sharavathi river
- Location: It flows through the western part of Karnataka.
- Unique Flow: It is one of the few westward-flowing rivers in India, draining into the Arabian Sea.
- Origin: Emerges in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site rich in biodiversity.
- Course: It travels in a northwesterly direction and empties into the Arabian Sea at Honavar in Uttara Kannada District.
- The river forms the famous Jog Falls, one of India’s highest waterfalls.
- The river’s course includes rocky outcrops, fertile plains, and deep gorges, making it geologically diverse.
- Major Tributaries: Nandihole, Haridravathi, Mavinahole, Hilkunji, Yennehole, Hurlihole, and Nagodihole.
