Finally, Shiradi Ghat opened for traffic; Mangaluru-Bengaluru passengers relieved

executive@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)
August 10, 2015

Mangaluru, Aug 10: Finally, the Shiradi Ghat stretch, which connects Mangaluru with Hassan on National Highway 75, was on Thursday thrown open to all types of traffic on Sunday.

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Today onwards all vehicles including buses can take the Shiradi Ghat stretch, which was strengthened at a cost of Rs. 69.9 crore. The stretch was closed for vehicles since January 2015 for repair and renovation.

Public Works Minister H.C. Mahadevappa declared the road open during his visit on Sunday to inspect the road work and study a presentation on the proposed tunnel by-pass road project.

Mr. Mahadevappa said the former Union Minister for Surface Transport Oscar Fernandes, who was also present, played a prominent role as a Union Minister in getting the work sanctioned. “Oscar Fernandes was aware of the problems faced by those who travel on the Shiradi Ghat stretch frequently. He himself had suffered whenever he took this road. He sanctioned the project when he was the Minister,” he said, adding that the current minister Nitin Gadkari was also extending similar support to the project proposals from the State.

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Mr. Fernandes said that when he took over the Ministry, the total length of National Highways in Karnataka was less than the national average. “Now the national highway coverage in Karnataka is more than the national average,” he said.

He said people travelling on the road face problems such as roadblock due to land slides during heavy rainfall. Train services would also be stopped whenever land fell on tracks.

“A permanent solution to the problem will be the tunnel road project, which costs around Rs. 10,000 crore. No matter whatever the amount, it should be done; otherwise the project cost would escalate with time,” he said. Better infrastructure for travellers on the Shiradi Ghat stretch would improve connectivity between the port cities of Mangaluru and Chennai via Bengaluru, he said.

Forests Minister B. Ramanath Rai, Congress MLA Shankunthala Shetty and other Congress leaders were present.

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Agencies
March 10,2025

ranya.jpg

Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya – also known as Ranya Rao, arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai – was allotted land to set up a steel plant by the previous Karnataka government in February 2023, said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) said on Sunday.

Ranya Rao was found to be in possession of gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Searches were also conducted at her residence, and gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore were seized, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had said on Wednesday.

Ranya is the stepdaughter of DGP-rank senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao.

The KIADB's statement comes after reports claimed that a company linked to Ranya Rao was allotted 12 acres of industrial land by the board in 2023.

The office of the minister for medium and large industries MB Patil shared the government's final notification issued on February 22, 2023, regarding the allocation of land to Ranya Rao's firm Ksiroda India at the Sira Industrial Area in the Tumakuru district, news agency PTI reported.

The Congress came to power after defeating the Basavaraj Bommai-led Bharatiya Janata Party in the Karnataka assembly election in May 2023.

The proceedings of the Karnataka government, shared by the minister's office, said, "Approval to the proposal of M/s Ksiroda India Private Limited to establish a unit for manufacture of 'steel products - TMT bars, rods and allied products' at Sira Industrial Area, Tumakuru district.

"The government is pleased to accord in-principle approval to the investment proposal of ₹138 crore, generating employment to about 160 persons with the following infrastructure assistances, incentives and concessions," it said.

In a press release issued by MB Patil's office, the KIADB said the allotment to the company linked to Ranjya Rao was done in January 2023.

KIADB CEO Mahesh said on Sunday Ksiroda India was allotted 12 acres of land on January 2, 2023, by the previous government, referring to the BJP, the PTI report added.

"The land, located in Sira Industrial Area, Tumakuru district, was approved for allotment during the 137th State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) meeting held on the same day, when the last govt was in power," PTI quoted Mahesh as saying.

According to the KIADB press release, the company had submitted a proposal to set up a manufacturing unit for steel TMT bars, rods, and allied products, with an investment of ₹138 crore. The project was expected to generate approximately 160 jobs.

Ramachandra Rao is currently serving as the chairman and managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.

The total seizure in the case stood at ₹17.29 crore, including assets worth ₹4.73 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks.

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