Centre sets up joint expert panel to study Shiradi Ghat tunnel connectivity project
Mangaluru (PTI): The Centre has constituted a joint expert committee to examine integrated highway and railway connectivity between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, including the proposed Shiradi Ghat tunnel corridor, according to Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta.
The committee, comprising specialists from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Indian Railways, will prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) covering technical feasibility, environmental implications, construction challenges and cost requirements, officials said.
The decision follows a request made by Chowta seeking coordinated evaluation rather than separate studies by road and railway departments.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, in a communication to the MP, confirmed the committee's mandate to assess the viability and benefits of a tunnel system along the Shiradi Ghat stretch.
The Shiradi Ghat route is a major lifeline linking coastal Karnataka with the state's capital and hinterland. However, the corridor has been vulnerable to recurring landslides, road closures and prolonged travel disruptions, particularly during the monsoon.
Officials said the proposed tunnel aims to enhance travel reliability, reduce transportation time and boost commercial movement between the coast and the interior region.
Chowta said the integrated approach is expected to improve coordination, reduce duplication of work and enable quicker decision-making.
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Thane police nab two women for stealing ornaments from bus passengers, in public places
Thane (PTI): The Thane Crime Branch has arrested two women for allegedly stealing gold ornaments from citizens and solved nine such cases with the recovery of jewellery worth Rs 37.19 lakh, an official said on Friday.
Senior Inspector Sachin Gaikwad of Crime Unit-I said the accused targeted elderly commuters and passengers on crowded buses.
The latest case came to light after a 72-year-old woman recently approached the police, saying a gold-encrusted purse was stolen from her bag when she was travelling by bus from Kharegaon Naka to Ozone Valley bus stop in Thane.
A team examined CCTV footage from the area and gathered information about the suspects, he said. “Acting on technical inputs and surveillance, the Crime Branch team arrested the two accused women on May 7,” Gaikwad said.
The accused were identified as Sangeeta Dashrath Peethkar (45) and Surekha Bajrang Gaikwad (47), both residents of Mumbai’s Mulund, which is located adjacent to Thane.
Police said the two women are involved in nine theft offences. Gold ornaments collectively valued at Rs 37.19 lakh have been recovered from the duo, said police, adding that further investigation is underway.
