The inauguration of Karnataka’s longest–and India’s second largest–cable-stayed bridge by Union Minister for Street Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday was marred by a disagreement between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who skipped the occasion in Shivamogga.
Constructed at a value of Rs 423.15 crore, the extradosed cable stay-cum-balanced cantilever bridge is 177 m lengthy and has method roads from each side. It connects a number of villages in Sagar and Hosanagara taluks of Shivamogga district and the favored Sigandur Chowdeshwari temple situated in Sagar taluk.
The row erupted a day forward of the inauguration of the bridge, with Siddaramaiah saying that he was not knowledgeable in regards to the occasion upfront–an allegation dismissed by Gadkari.
Siddaramaiah shared on X a letter despatched to Gadkari. “I used to be not consulted earlier than finalising the Shivamogga Nationwide Freeway tasks’ dedication & basis ceremony on July 14th, regardless of my title being included. As a consequence of prior commitments in Vijayapura, I’ve written to Shri Nitin Gadkari requesting the occasion be rescheduled,” he wrote.
I used to be not consulted earlier than finalising the Shivamogga Nationwide Freeway tasks’ dedication & basis ceremony on July 14th, regardless of my title being included.
As a consequence of prior commitments in Vijayapura, I’ve written to Shri @nitin_gadkari requesting the occasion be rescheduled. pic.twitter.com/mrHHsVS0ma
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 14, 2025
For his half, Gadkari wrote on X that an official invitation was prolonged to Siddaramaiah on July 11, inviting him to preside over the programme. “In gentle of any potential scheduling challenges, a subsequent letter was despatched on twelfth July, requesting his digital presence. The Central Authorities continues to uphold established protocols and has persistently appreciated the contributions and cooperation of the Authorities of Karnataka and the Chief Minister. It stays dedicated to cooperative federalism and shut coordination with all states,” he wrote.
In a serious step in the direction of boosting regional connectivity, the inauguration and basis stone laying ceremony for a number of key infrastructure tasks is being held at this time in Shivamogga, Karnataka.
An official invitation was duly prolonged to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri… pic.twitter.com/yDPbRdsygd
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 14, 2025
Responding to the X publish, Siddaramaiah mentioned that neither he nor his workplace was consulted earlier than the Ministry of Street Transport and Highways finalised the programme and circulated the invitation together with his title printed on it.
“In actual fact, the official invitation was acquired solely on eleventh July 2025, merely three days previous to the occasion. On the identical day, my workplace responded, informing you of my prior dedication to a state-level inauguration of irrigation and growth tasks at Indi, Vijayapura, and requested that the occasion be rescheduled. A communication despatched simply three days upfront, after public invites have been issued, can’t be construed as due session or coordination. True cooperative federalism calls for significant engagement with State Governments earlier than finalizing public programmes of such significance,” he mentioned, including that he hoped that future engagement will guarantee correct session and coordination between the Centre and the states.
Your response on the Shivamogga occasion is famous. Nonetheless, I want to place on report that neither I nor my workplace was consulted earlier than your Ministry finalized the programme and publicly circulated the invitation with my title printed on it.
In actual fact, the official invitation was… https://t.co/NSVo5hFCd3
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 14, 2025
No consultant from the state authorities attended the inauguration of the bridge, the place Union minister Pralhad Joshi and senior BJP chief and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa have been amongst these current.
Throughout the inauguration of the landmark bridge, Siddaramaiah, alongside together with his Cupboard colleagues, participated in an occasion held at Vijayapura to mark 500 crore free bus tickets distributed below the state authorities’s Shakthi scheme for ladies and laid basis stones for growth tasks.