Vehicular movement between Mangaluru and Bajpe on the Mangaluru-Athradi State Highway 67 was severely disrupted after a portion of an old minor bridge arch collapsed at Karambar in Dakshina Kannada district. Constructed in 1963, the aging structure became unstable following structural failure, prompting the district administration and local police to restrict vehicular movement over the bridge to prevent potential hazards.
While traffic heading directly between Mangaluru city and the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) remained largely unaffected as the bridge lies beyond the airport turn-off, commuters traveling from Bajpe towards the airport and Mangaluru city faced significant inconvenience. The disruption also impacted commuters traveling towards the famous pilgrim town of Kateel.
To manage the situation, the district administration issued a traffic advisory urging motorists to use alternate routes. Road users traveling to Mangaluru city have been advised to commute via the Porkodi-Jokatte stretch, while those heading toward the airport are directed through Jarinagara. Public Works Department (PWD) officials conducted an inspection at the site and noted that a proposal for the total reconstruction of the old bridge had been submitted to the state government previously. PWD engineers confirmed that an emergency proposal is now being processed to expedite official approval for a new bridge, while temporary restoration works are being initiated to allow light motor vehicles to pass safely in the interim.
