SIGANDUR CABLE‑STAYED BRIDGE

CURRENT CONTEXT: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 2.44 km long Sigandur Bridge over the backwaters of the Sharavati River in Sagar taluk, Shivamogga, Karnataka.

 ABOUT SIGANDUR BRIDGE:

• Also called Ambaragodlu–Kalasavalli Bridge; spans 2.44 km in length and is 16 m wide, constructed at a cost of ₹473 crore.
• India’s second‑longest inland cable‑stayed bridge, first in Karnataka.
• Reconnects Sagara town with Sigandur temple; communities had been isolated since the 1970s due to Linganamakki Dam submergence.
• Expected to improve local connectivity, commerce, and tourism.

 ABOUT SHARAVATI RIVER:

• Originates in the Western Ghats, flows northwest for about 128 km before meeting the Arabian Sea at Honavar.
• Features include rocky gorges, fertile plains, and the iconic Jog Falls (height 253 m).
• Tributaries include Nandihole, Haridravathi, Mavinahole, Hilkunji, Yennehole, Hurlihole, and Nagodihole.