Union Minister Nitin Gadkari seeks report on NH 66 between Talapady and Kundapura

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari seeks report on NH 66 between Talapady and Kundapura

Mangalore Today /The Hindu

New Delhi, December 04, 2024: MPs Srinivas Poojary and Captain Brijesh Chowta complain of flawed highway design causing inconvenience to road users

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari assured a delegation of MPs from coastal Karnataka that he will get a report on the status of Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66, which covers the stretch from Talapady near Mangaluru to Kundapura, to address the shortcomings highlighted by the Lok Sabha members.

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary and Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta told the Minister in New Delhi that people travelling on NH 66 were facing severe hardship because of flaws in the original design of the four-lane highway between Talapady and Kundapura. They sought a comprehensive study on the design flaws at the junctions in Thokkottu, Nanthoor, KPT, Kottara Chowki, Suratkal, Padubidri, Katpady, Ambalpady, Brahmavara Akashavani, Kota High School, Kota Town and Koteshwara.

The MPs urged the Minister to constitute a high-level technical committee to study the flaws and recommend measures to rectify the unscientific structures.

According to Mr. Poojary’s office, Mr. Gadkari directed the officials concerned to submit a detailed report along with video recordings at the earliest. Mr. Gadkari also directed officials to expedite the grade separator work at Kallianapura-Santhekatte Junction on NH 66, near Udupi, and the additional Road Over Bridge at Indrali on NH 169A in Udupi.

Bengaluru Rural MP C.N. Manjunath, Kolar MP Mallesh, Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna and others were part of the delegation.

Demand for foot-overbridge

Besides seeking a comprehensive re-look at the design flaws, Mr. Poojary demanded construction of foot over bridges at crucial junctions along the highway for pedestrians.

The locations include Bobbaryana Katte in Kundapura, Kota Town (Amruteshwari temple), Kota High School, Brahmavara Akashavani and Brahmavara Bus Stand. He also sought hastening construction of three FoBs already approved by the Ministry between Padubidri and Kundapura. He asked the Ministry to explore the possibility of constructing a flyover in Brahmavara, a fast developing taluk headquarters in Udupi district.