NH-PWD Pledges to Make Punjalakatte-Charmadi Stretch Motorable Before Monsoon

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 2, 2025: The National Highways Division of the Karnataka Public Works Department (NH-PWD) has assured that the Punjalakatte-Charmadi stretch of Mangaluru-Tumakuru National Highway (NH 73) will be made motorable before the onset of the southwest monsoon. The department plans to asphalt all open stretches of the highway to ensure smoother travel.

Speaking at the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (Disha) meeting chaired by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta on Saturday, NH-PWD Executive Engineer Shivaprasad Ajila confirmed that no new excavation work would be undertaken during this period. The decision comes in light of last year’s difficulties faced by commuters, who had to navigate through slushy roads during the monsoon season.

The ongoing widening of the 35-km stretch into a two-lane highway with paved shoulders, under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, commenced in March 2023 and is expected to be completed by March 2025. However, delays in land acquisition, forest clearance, and heavy rainfall in 2024 have hindered progress. To expedite the work, NH-PWD appointed M/s Mugrodi Constructions as the sub-contractor after the original contractor, M/s D.P. Jain & Co, failed to meet expectations.

Mr. Ajila stated that the sub-contractor has mobilized sufficient manpower and machinery to accelerate the project. He further noted that major bridge construction at Belthangady is in its final stages, while another bridge at Mundaje has been completed, with approach roads currently under construction. Out of 114 culverts planned for the project, 64 have been completed so far.

In a related development, NH-PWD has awarded the contract for widening the Charmadi Ghat stretch of NH 73, between Km 75 and Km 86.2, to the lowest bidder, M/s SLV Constructions, on October 25, 2024. The work order will be issued following a survey of trees that need to be removed. Additionally, land acquisition is ongoing for the NH 73 Spur Road widening project, which will expand the Ujire-Periyashanthi stretch (connecting Bengaluru-Mangaluru NH 75 Junction) into a two-lane highway with paved shoulders.

Deputy Commissioner MP Mullai Muhilan, Zilla Panchayat CEO K. Anandh, Deputy Conservator of Forests Anthony S. Mariappa, and other officials were present at the meeting.