Mangaluru:The Union government has released ₹ 17.50 crore for repairing National Highway 169 between Karkala and Kulashekara (Mangaluru), according to Nalin Kumar Kateel, Member of Parliament.

He said in a release that the government has agreed to construct a parallel bridge across the Phalguni in Gurupura on the highway at an estimated cost of ₹ 50 crore, while upgrading it as a four-lane highway. The State government has agreed to widen the stretch to 45 m, while upgrading it. Land acquisition for the project would be completed soon.

Though a detailed project report (DPR) for widening this 45-km stretch was prepared in 2009, the project did not move forward due to issues related to alignment.

Now, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has come out with a revised alignment. The report was presented before people at a meeting chaired by B. Ramanath Rai, Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada, in the office of Deputy Commissioner on August 22, 2017.

Accordingly, re-alignment has been done at six places — Kudupu, Edapadavu, Mijar, Todar, Murattangady and Sanur. Earlier, as per the old alignment, the government issued the preliminary notification for acquiring land for the project on May 20, 2016.

An NHAI official said that the final notification for acquiring land has been issued in different stretches (villages) to an extent of 15 km. These stretches are part of the revised alignment. Hence, no fresh notification to acquire land in those stretches would be issued. The fresh notification would apply to the remaining 30-km stretch.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kateel said in the release that a ₹ 159.70-crore proposal for widening the 21 km stretch between BC Road Junction and Punjalkatte has been submitted to the Union government.

In addition, the bridges at Manihalla, Nidigal and Charmadi Halla (between BC Road and Charmadi) would be rebuilt.

The release that the NHAI has prepared a ₹ 800-crore proposal for further upgrading the BC Road-Surathkal stretch of the National Highway with parallel flyovers, underpasses and overpasses, service roads and a 7-km concrete road between Baikampady and Kuntikana.

Parallel flyovers would be built at Surathkal, Kulur and Kottara Chowki. An overpass would be built at Nanthoor Junction and an underpass would come up at Panambur, the release said.