According to officials, the bridge, constructed across the Sharavathi backwaters between Ambaragodlu and Kalasavalli in Sagara taluk, has been built at a cost of Rs 472 crore. It is expected to significantly reduce travel distance from Sagara to the surrounding villages near Sigandur, a place famed for the Chowdeshwari Temple
Nitin Gadkari stated that the Central Government remains committed to cooperative federalism and respects protocol. Pic/X
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Monday inaugurated India’s second-longest cable-stayed Sigandur Bridge in Shivamogga. However, the event was boycotted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues in protest, claiming they were not invited, reported the PTI.
In a post on X, Nitin Gadkari refuted the claim, stating that an official invitation had been extended to Siddaramaiah on July 11, inviting him to preside over the ceremony. A follow-up letter dated July 12 also requested his virtual participation, acknowledging the possibility of scheduling conflicts. Both letters addressed to the Chief Minister were posted online by Gadkari.
In a major step towards boosting regional connectivity, the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony for multiple key infrastructure projects is being held today in Shivamogga, Karnataka.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 14, 2025
An official invitation was duly extended to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri… pic.twitter.com/yDPbRdsygd
"None of us is participating. I was not invited. I spoke to Nitin Gadkari over the phone and told him; he said he would postpone it. Then I wrote a letter to him. Probably BJP leaders might have put pressure. Without informing me, they are proceeding with it. I'm not going. I have a pre-scheduled event at Indi, which was arranged a month ago," Siddaramaiah told reporters on Monday, according to the PTI.
Speaking in Bengaluru, he said, "As a mark of protest, none of us are attending -- neither I, the PWD Minister, the district in-charge minister, nor the MLA from Sagara."
When asked if the incident could cause friction between the Centre and the state, the Chief Minister responded, "They (the Centre) should extend the invitation, right? Who initiated the friction? They did. Protocol must be followed. The event is taking place in our state -- we are in a federal system," as per the PTI.
In response, Nitin Gadkari stated that the Central Government remains committed to cooperative federalism and respects protocol. He affirmed that it has always appreciated the contributions and cooperation of the Karnataka Government and the Chief Minister.
The event was attended by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra, among others.
Taking to X, BJP MP Raghavendra said that he had respectfully invited the Chief Minister on 9 July. "How reasonable is it for the CM to publicly claim the invitation reached him late?" he questioned.
"This bridge, constructed over the Sharavathi river, is the result of six decades of struggle and the efforts of thousands. It reflects the sentiments of the people. Please don’t hurt their feelings," he urged.
He added that while political disagreements are acceptable, politicising a development project, despite receiving the invitation in advance, is disrespectful to the people of the Sharavathi backwaters. "I urge you to withdraw your statement and be truthful before the public," he said.
According to officials, the bridge, constructed across the Sharavathi backwaters between Ambaragodlu and Kalasavalli in Sagara taluk, has been built at a cost of Rs 472 crore. It is expected to significantly reduce travel distance from Sagara to the surrounding villages near Sigandur, a place famed for the Chowdeshwari Temple.
On Sunday evening, the Chief Minister’s Office released a letter from Siddaramaiah dated July 11, in which he urged Nitin Gadkari to postpone the event, stating he had not been informed in advance. Citing his scheduled visit to Indi taluk in Vijayapura district, the CM noted that it would have been more appropriate for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to have coordinated with the state government before finalising the programme, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
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