NHAI issues work orders for Rs 1,137-cr NH project

Construction work on the widening of NH 169 between Mangaluru and Karkala to four lanes has started and the NHAI has issued the work order to the concessionaire with a set date for the work

Sanur-Bikarnakatte Highways will carry out the project in two years for an investment of Rs 1,137 crore excluding the cost of land acquisition. The dual carriageway starts at Bikarnakatte, at NH75 in Mangaluru and ends at Sanur, about 5 km before Karkala in Udupi district

The 45-km project highway via Gurupura and Moodbidri would have a total width of 45 m, including 18-20 m of carriageway, medians, pavements and other infrastructure. Two bypasses — Gurupura (5.5 km) and Moodbidri (7 km) — are also part of the project highway. The four-laning is expected to considerably ease vehicular movement between Mangaluru and education hub Moodbidri that is already witnessing bumper-to-bumper traffic during peak hours, said an official spokesperson.