Karnataka NH66 Safety Boosted With 26 Km Service Road And 6 Foot Overbridges
Karnataka’s National Highway 66 is set for significant safety enhancements with the approval of a twenty six kilometer service road and six new foot overbridges. This crucial decision by the National Highways Authority of India NHAI directly addresses mounting public concern and frequent accidents along the busy stretch between Koteshwara and Hejamady. A Member of Parliament confirmed the comprehensive plan, which aims to provide safer passage for both vehicles and pedestrians, promising much needed relief.
The demand for these vital infrastructure improvements gained urgent momentum following a tragic incident in Brahmavar, where a schoolboy was fatally struck by a speeding vehicle near his school. This unfortunate event ignited widespread public protests, prompting repeated appeals to authorities for immediate action and better facilities in accident prone zones. In response, NHAI has now sanctioned service road construction at twelve distinct locations and foot overbridges at six key points along the Kundapura Nanthoor segment of NH66, aiming to substantially reduce road hazards.
The approved service road sections within Udupi district include vital stretches at Koteshwara Bypass, Bijadi, Tekkatte, Saligrama, Brahmavar, Ambagilu, Balayipade, Udyavara, Bada Yermal, and Hejamady, covering various distances on either side of the highway. In Dakshina Kannada district, service roads have also been approved for Mulki, Padupanambur, Haleangady, and Beeri. The six new foot overbridges will be strategically built in front of prominent locations like Mahesh Hospital Brahmavar, Nittur Udupi, Thenka Yermal, Bappanadu Temple Mulki, Srinivas College Mukka, and Goregudde.
All these projects have received official approval from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Additionally, NHAI has sanctioned a five hundred meter long vehicular overpass at Katapady, further enhancing road connectivity and safety in the region. These collective upgrades are expected to significantly improve public safety and traffic flow along this critical national highway.
