more-in The Union government has given in-principle approval for upgrading the 37-km four-lane stretch of the national highways between BC Road and Surathkal with additional infrastructure under the Sagarmala Programme, according to Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP. The project proposal comprises constructing parallel flyovers, additional underpasses, widening of the highways at identified stretches, reconstructing the bridges and strengthening the highways and service roads. The entire project would cost about ? 500 crore, he told reporters on the sidelines of a function organised to inaugurate the road underbridge on Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway at Padil here on Wednesday. A major work proposed is to upgrade a seven-kilometre tar stretch between Baikampady and Lohitnagar in the city as an 11-m wide concrete road. It is considering the heavy traffic on the stretch. The carriageway (on which vehicles ply) of the remaining 30-km stretch would be further strengthened as tar road. He said that parallel flyovers would be constructed at Surathkal, Kottara Chowki and BC Road which have one-way flyovers now. In addition, vehicular underpasses have been proposed at Honnakatte and Panambur. A grade separator at Karnataka Polytechnic Junction and an overpass at Nanthoor Junction have been proposed. There is pressing demand for them from road users to ease traffic congestion. The other works proposed include widening and strengthening service roads, laying new service roads at identified stretches between Kottara Chowki and Surathkal, rehabilitation of minor bridges at Brahmarakootlu and Arkula. Mr. Kateel said that the two bridges across the Phalguni (or Gurupura river) at Kulur would be reconstructed. The existing road overbridge at Baikampady would be reconstructed. The NHAI was in the process of getting approvals required for the works to take off. He said that the 37-km stretch had earlier been upgraded as a four-lane tar road under the Port Connectivity Project. Earlier, speaking at the function, the MP said that the NHAI has chosen a contractor for the operation and maintenance of the 37-km stretch.

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