Mangaluru, May 7: In a major engineering milestone for coastal Karnataka, Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) is set to begin the massive lifting operation of a 900-tonne bowstring girder for the much-awaited Sulthan Bathery–Tannirbavi bridge project.

The high-precision exercise involves hoisting a gigantic 100-metre-long single-unit girder from the bed of the Phalguni River (Gurupura River) and positioning it atop the bridge piers — a crucial stage in the ₹64-crore Smart City project aimed at transforming connectivity between Sulthan Bathery and Tannirbavi.

K. Arun Prabha, General Manager (Technical) of MSCL, described the operation as one of the most challenging phases of the project.

“The girder will be lifted from the coffer bund to a height of nearly 11 metres and then carefully lowered onto the pier supports,” he said.

The lifting process is expected to take nearly two weeks, with the initial jacking operation alone likely to last up to six days. Authorities are aiming to complete the work and dismantle the temporary river bund before the onset of the monsoon to ensure uninterrupted boat movement in the river.

A Landmark Connectivity Project

The bridge project, stretching nearly one kilometre including approach roads, will feature a nine-metre-wide carriageway along with pedestrian footpaths. Designed to meet the requirements of National Waterway-43, the structure will provide a vertical clearance of 10 metres and an 80-metre navigational span for smooth river traffic movement.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to dramatically improve access to Tannirbavi beach and ease travel for residents of the Bengre peninsula, who currently depend on ferry services or long road routes via Kuloor and Panambur to reach the mainland.

The project is also expected to boost tourism and economic activity in the region by creating a direct link between the city and one of Mangaluru’s most popular coastal destinations.

Having secured mandatory environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone clearances earlier this year, the long-awaited bridge is now moving rapidly towards reality.