Amid pending earthwork, contractor hopeful of completing 90% of Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH 75 B.C. Road-Periyashanthi four-lane work before monsoon

Work on the Kalladka flyover, one of the crucial components of the road widening project, is nearing completion with six spans of the 70-odd spans remaining to be concreted, the spokesperson said.

Notwithstanding massive hill-cutting work pending in at least four places on the 48-km stretch between B.C. Road and Periyashanthi (Dharmasthala Cross) of Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway 75, the contractor is confident of providing a through-stretch before the commencement of this monsoon.

Cutting of hills at Narahari Parvatha (between B.C. Road and Kalladka), Perne (between Mani and Uppinangady), Uppinangady and Valalu (between Uppinangady and Nellyadi) were underway at a snail’s pace even as a few stretches of concrete carriageway have been opened for movement of vehicles.

Going by the pace of work, many road users and residents along the stretch fear that the NH 75 four-lane project in Dakshina Kannada district could become another ‘Pumpwell flyover of Mangaluru’. The project commenced in 2017 when the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) appointed Larsen and Tubro as the contractor for four-laning B.C. Road-Addahole (Gundya) stretch of NH 75.

Subsequent to L&T withdrawing from the project, the project was divided into two packages. The one between B.C. Road and Periyashanthi (Dharmasthala Cross — 48.48 km) at an estimated cost of ₹1,100 crore was awarded to KNR Constructions. The Periyashanthi-Addahole stretch (15.13 km), that passes through wildlife corridors, at an estimated cost of ₹400 crore was awarded to S. M. Autade Private Limited.

KNR spokesperson told The Hindu that the Central Government is keen on early completion of the project. The contractor is working in full swing to complete the stretch before this monsoon. Only ‘road furniture work’ could remain but the carriageways would be ready for traffic, he said.

The contractor’s Project Manager Raghunatha Reddy told The Hindu, “At least one of the two carriageways would be opened for traffic before the onset of monsoon. Though the work involves removal of huge quantities of earth and rocks to straighten existing curves, we are confident of completing the project. We may achieve 90% physical and 80% financial progress before monsoon.”

Work on the Kalladka flyover, one of the crucial components of the road widening project, is nearing completion with six spans of the 70-odd spans remaining to be concreted, the spokesperson said.