• The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways recently inaugurated the Sigandur Bridge, a significant infrastructure project built across the backwaters of the Sharavati River in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district, Karnataka.
• Also known as the Ambaragodlu–Kalasavalli Bridge, this structure stands out as India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge. Measuring 2.44 kilometres in length and 16 metres in width, it was constructed at a cost of ₹473 crore.
• The bridge establishes a direct connection between Sagara town and Sigandur, which is renowned for the famous Chowdeshwari temple.
• The Sigandur Bridge holds immense importance for the region. It restores a vital transport corridor that was disrupted in the 1970s following the construction of the Linganamakki Dam. For decades, villagers had to rely on boats or take long detours to cross the backwaters, which posed difficulties for daily commuting and economic activity.
• The new bridge reduces travel time, enhances accessibility, and is expected to boost connectivity to both religious destinations and economic centres in Shivamogga and beyond.
• The bridge spans the Sharavati River, a west-flowing river of Karnataka that originates in the Western Ghats.
• Stretching over 128 kilometres, the river flows northwest before emptying into the Arabian Sea at Honavar in Uttara Kannada district. Its basin covers an area of 2,985 square kilometres.
• The river is most famously associated with Jog Falls, one of India’s highest waterfalls, with a dramatic vertical drop of 253 metres. Among its important tributaries are the Nandihole, Haridravathi, Mavinahole, Hilkunji, Yennehole, Hurlihole, and Nagodihole.
• By blending engineering excellence with regional necessity, the Sigandur Bridge represents both a modern marvel of infrastructure and a lifeline for communities that have long awaited seamless connectivity across the Sharavati backwaters.