Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary at a meeting at the NHAI regional office in Bengaluru on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon take up the construction of service roads on National Highway 66 near Kota Vivek High School, Sastana bus stand and Sastana toll plaza in Udupi district, according to Vilas P. Brahmankar, Regional Officer, NHAI, Karnataka.
Speaking at a meeting convened by Kota Srinivas Poojary, Member of Parliament for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, at NHAI’s Regional Office in Bengaluru on Saturday, Mr. Brahmankar said service roads are currently under construction in several locations, including Koteshwara, Tekkatte, Kumbashi, Brahmavara, Ambagilu (near Kalyanapura), and Ermalu in Udupi district.
He said approval has been granted in phases for the construction of service roads along different stretches from Hejamadi to Kundapura.
Mr. Poojary pointed out that the pedestrian overpass currently being constructed at Tenka-Ermalu (within the Kapu Assembly constituency) will not serve any practical purpose and should instead be relocated near Uchila Mahalakshmi temple to better serve temple visitors and pedestrians. He noted that residents also want the overpass built at Uchila.
Mr. Brahmankar subsequently instructed NHAI officials to halt work immediately at Tenka-Ermalu.
Regarding the underpass project at Katapadi, the Regional Officer said that while the scheduled completion date is September 18, 2027, the project would be finished ahead of that deadline.
Mr. Poojary told the NHAI that the service road at Santekatte should be widened from 5.5 metres to 7.5 metres to facilitate smoother local traffic, and urged that the work commence immediately.
Regarding Mr. Poojary’s suggestion to implement a discounted pass system for vehicle owners residing within a 20-km radius of the Hejamadi and Sastana toll plazas, Mr. Brahmankar directed Thimmayya, head of the toll plazas, who was present at the meeting, to take immediate action.
The meeting decided to conduct a feasibility study for building an underpass at Saligrama cross.
The meeting also focused on addressing the frequent accidents and lack of basic infrastructure along NH-66 between Hejamadi and Byndoor.
Key issues discussed included the installation of barriers between highway dividers, the erection of fencing in identified accident-prone black spots, the construction of foot overbridges in high-pedestrian or high-demand areas, and the installation of traffic signals at Ambagilu (Udupi), Kota, and Padubidri.
Published – November 07, 2026 07:11 pm IST
