NHAI to commence Katpady vehicular overpass work on NH 66 soon after monsoon: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary

Katpady junction is a busy road intersection. Vehicular traffic from Shirva, Bantakal, Mattu, Belman and Katpady intersect NH 66 at the junction, often leading to traffic jams. Also, pedestrian safety was at peril following heavy traffic volume at the section.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will commence work on a vehicular overpass (VoP) at Katpady junction, near Udupi, on Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66 to reduce accidents and enhance pedestrian safety soon after the monsoon, said Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary.

Mr. Poojary visited Katpady junction, along with Kapu MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty on May 19, evening. The MP said the tender for the VoP work, along with other ancillary works, had been awarded, paving the way for construction of the facility.

Since VoP work at Kallianapura-Santhekate junction and Ambalpady junction are in progress, the administration does not want to commence one more infrastructure work on the same stretch, which could inconvenience road users, Mr. Poojary and Mr. Shetty told reporters.

Mr. Shetty said that the tender was awarded to a joint venture of Tirthahalli-based National Infrabuild Pvt., Ltd., and National Projects Pvt., Ltd., at an estimated cost of ₹17 crore. While the contractor was expected to complete the work within 24 months, the company has promised to get it completed within 18 months after commencement.

Before undertaking the work, similar to VoPs at Kinnimulki in Udupi and Kallianapura-Santhekatte, the contractor would provide adequate service roads to divert the NH 66 traffic. The overpass to be built for the local traffic would be at a height of 5.5 metre from the highway, Mr. Poojary said. The total length of the VoP would be 530 metre on the highway.

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had sanctioned the VoP project along with a vehicular underpass (VuP) at Ambalapady in Udupi in June 2021 upon the insistence of the then MP Shobha Karandlaje. The estimated cost of Katapadi VoP at that time was ₹22 crore. However, the tender was awarded to the lowest bidder.

Ms. Karandlaje had told Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari that the Katpady junction is a busy road intersection. Vehicular traffic from Shirva, Bantakal, Mattu, Belman and Katpady intersect NH 66 at the junction, often leading to traffic jams. Also, pedestrian safety was at peril following heavy traffic volume at the section, she had said.