Stark contrast in NHAI work on highways in Karnataka and Kerala
The Hindu
Well-maintained existing carriageway, secured worksites, proper signboards are highlights of NH 66 widening project in Kerala whereas NH 75 is a dust bowl
National Highways Authority of India is widening NH 75 in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka and NH 66 in Kasargod district of Kerala, but the execution of work is a picture of contrast.
Driving on NH 75 is a nightmare, marked by dust and a bumpy ride. But in Kasargod district of Kerala, road-users and residents do not experience any adverse impact on account of the work, except for the movement of construction-related vehicles and personnel at the worksite.
The NHAI is executing the 630-km Talapady (Karnataka border)-Thiruvananthapuram (Karode) 10-lane expansion project, including four lanes of service roads on Panvel-Kanniyakumari NH 66 under 20 packages at an estimated cost of around ₹50,000 crore.
The 39-km Talapady-Chengala package is being executed at an estimated cost of ₹1,981 crore.
Road-users complain that despite there being a ‘double engine’ government in Karnataka, as claimed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, widening of the Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH 75 in Dakshina Kannada district has not yet reached the halfway mark though work commenced in 2017.
The original contractor exited the project. The new contractor, KNR Constructions, commenced the work in September, but has been executing the same without maintaining the existing highway in a motorable condition and ignoring safety norms, particularly at flyover construction sites.
The entire 45-km stretch between B.C. Road and Periyashanthi, including Kalladka town, is in a mess, say road-users.
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