Mangaluru: The entire stretch of National Highway (NH) 75 connecting the coastal commercial hub of Mangaluru with Nelamangala and further with Bengaluru will become a four-lane road — except for a 26-km stretch of Shirad Ghat.

Instead of the initial plan to have a two-lane bitumen road between Gulagalale (between Ballupet and Sakleshpur) and Maranahalli (Heggadde), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed to lay a four-lane concrete road on this stretch too. Thus, the 55-km stretch between Hassan and Maranahalli will become a four-lane concrete road.

Sources in the NHAI said that initially it was thought of having only a two-lane road because of the hilly terrain where the existing alignment passes through steep curves, ups, and downs. However, it was later decided to have the four-lane road considering the volume of traffic. Also, the proposed green bypass for Shiradi Ghat starts from Maranahalli and ends near Gundia, thus requiring four-lane connectivity at both the ends.

The contract for four-laning NH 75 between Hassan and Maranahalli has been awarded to Isolux Corson on engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode at an estimated cost of Rs400 crore. The work, which has already started, is expected to be completed in about two years, sources said.

From Maranahalli, where the Shiradi Ghat begins, to Kempu Hole Guest House (13 km), the road has already been widened to 8.5 m width with concrete. The NH Division of Karnataka State Public Works Department (PWD) is awaiting nod from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to award contract for concreting the remaining 13-km stretch between Kempu Hole Guest House to Addahole (near Gundia) after selecting the lowest bidder, Ocean Constructions, which had quoted Rs61.57 crore for the project.

Contract for four-laning NH 75 with concrete between Addahole and B.C. Road (66 km) at a cost of about Rs821 crore under EPC mode has been awarded to L&T. Work on the stretch has already commenced after clearing about 7,000 trees and is expected to be completed in about two years. It also includes construction of 14.5 km of service roads, two each flyovers, and major bridges, 14 minor bridges, nine underpasses, and a toll plaza. The 25-km stretch between B.C. Road and Mangaluru is already a four-lane under NHAI’s Port Connectivity Project.