Bhatkal: Despite an assurance by the Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner that the widening and four-laning work of National Highway-66 in Bhatkal would be completed within the next two months, more than two weeks have passed with little to no visible progress on the ground. Except for the removal of trees at a few locations, including Ranginkatte, no significant construction activity is underway, triggering widespread public resentment.
Although the much-needed underpass projects at Kaikini Basti and Mood Bhatkal were launched earlier, the pace of work remains far below expectations. Road construction within Bhatkal’s town limits continues to face prolonged delays. From Tenginagundi Cross to Mood Bhatkal—where there are no major obstructions or disputes—the highway remains largely untouched. In several stretches, the ground has been dug up and left incomplete, while the occasional appearance of a JCB or Hitachi machine offers little reassurance, as work soon comes to a halt again.
Temporary diversions created in the name of highway widening have effectively become permanent, turning the edges of the existing National Highway into high-risk zones. Heavy and unregulated traffic has further aggravated the situation, making the highway increasingly dangerous. Over the past month alone, at least seven people have lost their lives in road accidents, while incidents of pedestrians and motorists falling and sustaining injuries have become routine. Severely injured victims are frequently being shifted to hospitals in Udupi and Mangaluru. Yet, there appears to be no urgency among the authorities to expedite the completion of the stalled highway project.
With the first week of February already over and the monsoon season barely three months away, concerns are mounting over the absence of proper drainage systems on either side of the highway. More importantly, residents remain in the dark about how the widening work will be executed within Bhatkal town limits. There is still no clarity on whether service roads form part of the project.
The stretch from Shamsuddin Circle to the government bus stand opposite it and up to Quality Hotel—one of the busiest zones in Bhatkal—continues to witness severe traffic congestion, while pedestrians struggle daily to cross the road. Even in this high-density area, it remains unclear whether service roads will be provided. Public concern is growing that proceeding with the project without service roads could severely compromise road safety, yet no concrete initiative has been taken to address these apprehensions.
It is noteworthy that the four-laning project of the National Highway has been underway for nearly 13 years. Although the newly designated highway was officially inaugurated around three years ago, construction work continues to move at a snail’s pace. Whether the project will be completed even within the revised deadline set by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) remains uncertain.
Promises that the highway work will be completed “today or tomorrow” have stretched into years. Various organisations have staged protests, submitted memoranda and petitions to the authorities, and repeatedly raised demands for action. Discussions on blocking the highway and shutting down the Shirur toll gate as a form of protest have also surfaced from time to time in citizens’ forum meetings. Multiple meetings involving officials, MLAs, MPs and ministers have been held, but on the ground, the outcome remains zero.
Residents warn that unless the district administration exerts firm pressure on the National Highways Authority and brings the project back on track, the lives of commuters and pedestrians will continue to be exposed to greater risks, pushing public hardship to alarming levels.
