The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed to widen the National Highway 169 (formerly NH 13) between Mangalore and Karkala via Moodbidri, even though the final feasibility report on taking up this project has been completed. It has proposed to widen the stretch between Mangalore (from Kulashekara) and Moodbidri into a four-lane road and the stretch between Moodbidri and Karkala as two-lane road.
According to Shriram Mishra, Project Director, Mangalore Project Office of the NHAI, the final feasibility report is now before the NHAI for its approval. A 50-k.m. stretch between Mangalore and Karkala is part of the NH 169 connecting Solapur in Maharasthra and Mangalore. It has been proposed to widen a 20 km stretch between Moodbidri and Karkala into a two-lane road, considering that the traffic here is less than what one could witness between Mangalore and Moodbidri.
He said there is also a proposal to construct a bypass at Gurupur and Moodbidri under engineering procurement construction (EPC) mode of contract (under this mode of contract the government spends the entire money required to build a road). It would not be taken up under build, operate and transfer (BoT) mode of contract or design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) mode of contract.
B.C. Road-Surathkal
Mr. Mishra said that a Rs. 22 crore proposal has been submitted to the NHAI headquarters for widening the service roads between the 37-km four-lane stretch from B. C. Road to Surathkal (covering NH 66, NH 169 and NH 75) and to build 34 bus shelters in this stretch. The service roads will be widened wherever free land is available. In many places, land is available for widening the service roads up to one meter or 1.5 meters. The proposal does not involve acquisition of additional land or demolition of any buildings.
He said that under this proposal street lights will be installed on all six flyovers. In addition, a foot-over-bridge will be constructed at Surathkal and a two k.m. service road will be built at Brahmarakutlu (near B. C. Road).Mr. Mishra said that toll booths will be constructed at Brahmarakootlu and Maroli (between Maroli flyover and Padil).Potholes on the service roads will be filled up shortly as rains have stopped, he said.
