India’s Second Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge Inaugurated in Shivamogga, Karnataka

In a major infrastructure milestone, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Sigandur cable-stayed bridge in Shivamogga district of Karnataka on July 16, 2025. Spanning 2.44 kilometers across the Sharavathi backwaters, the bridge now holds the distinction of being India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge, after Mumbai’s Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

The bridge connects Sagara town to Sigandur, notably easing access to the sacred Chowdeshwari Temple, a major pilgrimage destination in the region. The 16-meter-wide bridge, constructed at a cost of over ₹470 crore, is set to drastically improve transportation and accessibility for both locals and tourists.

Restoring Vital Road Links

Since the construction of the Linganamakki dam in the 1960s, many nearby villages and religious sites have been cut off due to rising water levels. This bridge restores a long-lost connection, linking Sagara with Marakutika and easing movement to and from Sigandur and adjacent regions.

At the inauguration, Gadkari announced that the bridge will be named after Goddess Chowdeshwari Devi, recognizing its cultural and spiritual significance. He highlighted how the bridge would directly benefit pilgrims, tourists, and residents who had long faced challenges in reaching the temple area.

Karnataka’s Highway Revolution

Speaking at the event, the Union Minister emphasized the state’s rapid growth in road infrastructure. He said Karnataka’s National Highway network has grown from 6,707 km in 2014 to 9,424 km in 2025. He promised that ₹5 lakh crore worth of road development projects would be completed by the end of the government’s term.

Some major road projects underway in Karnataka include:

• Belagavi-Hungund-Raichur corridor (2027)

• Hassan-Raichur highway (Dec 2028)

• Tumkuru-Shivamogga road (end of 2025)

• Mysuru-Madikeri and Chitradurga-Shivamogga roads (by 2026)

Big National Plans

Gadkari also gave updates on national-level infrastructure:

• The Leh-Ladakh road via the Zojila tunnel will be opened in 2026.

• The massive Surat-Chennai highway, crossing six states, will reduce Bengaluru-Chennai travel by 320 km and finish by 2026.

• The Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is expected to be completed in six months, cutting travel time from 8 hours to just 2 hours.

This inauguration marks a leap in connectivity, showcasing how modern infrastructure can blend with cultural heritage and regional development.