Villagers living on the banks of the Gangavali river flowing between Ankola and Kumta and those on the banks of the Aganashini river in Kumta taluk, where it joins the Arabian Sea, are in dire need of a bridge.
They risk a ferry ride to Gokarna, Ankola and Karwar transporting two-wheelers and goods and to do business like selling fish and for work. And during rainy days, they are deprived of even this service and are forced to take a bus, which travels more than 20 km to reach the destination which is just three km across the river.
Lalita Nayak, 22, of Honnebailu village, on the Gangavali river bank, uses the ferry from Manjuguni to reach Gokarna, which is less than five km away. But if she takes a bus, she has to travel 32 km over small bridges at a different points on the river. Her heart pounds during rainy days, as she fears she would drown. The river’s depth has not be surveyed so far.
The ferry service, given on tender by the Department of Ports, carries more than 300 people on both sides, along each of these rivers between 6 and 8 pm. They charge `3 per person and `6 per vehicle (motorbikes).
Ashok Nesari, Assistant Executive Engineer of Public Works Department in Kumta taluk said a fresh proposal for a bridge at a cost of Rs 50 crore on the Gangavali river and `75 crore on the Aganashini river will be sent. However, he said, several such proposals sent earlier were not approved. For tourists, however, the Rs 10-ferry trip to Gokarna is a fun ride.