Capt. Chowta urges NHAI to immediately construct missing service road link at Bannadka on NH 169

Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately construct missing service road link of about 700 m at Bannadka between Moodbidri and Karkala on Mangaluru-Solapur National Highway 169.

The MP was under attack from his constituents for his alleged silence over repeated accidents and loss of life due to ‘unscientific’ execution of the four-lane work by the NHAI at several stretches, including Bannadka. In a letter to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday (May 16, 2026), the MP said the NHAI was executing the 45 km Bikarnakatte (Mangaluru)-Sanoor (Karkala) four-lane project. Bannadka, Capt. Chowta said, has seen several accidents, including a recent mishap that claimed the life of a local resident.

In a meeting with the residents and road users, it was highlighted that discontinuation of the service road for about 650-700 m at this location was the reason for frequent mishaps. Because of the missing link, regular commuters and local traffic were forced to drive in the wrong direction and dangerously cross the main high-speed carriageway, leading to recurring and avoidable accidents.

Consultation with NHAI officials has revealed that the service road was completed from Km 697+400 to Km 702+210 and again from Km 702+850 to Km 704+000 on both sides. The intermediate stretch between Km 702+210 and Km 702+850 was left untouched, the MP said.

He urged Mr. Gadkari to direct NHAI to immediately construct the service road on the missing link thereby ensuring public safety and preventing avoidable accidents by streamlining the local traffic.