Rs 534 crore to develop highways in north Karnataka

 The Centre on Wednesday sanctioned Rs 536 crore to the National Highway’s Hubballi division to take up development and asphalting works on Hubballi-Vijayapura highway (NH 218) and construct Hubballi bypass connecting NH 218 with NH 62.

Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi, who met top officials of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways here, told reporters that the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has sanctioned Rs 476 crore for repairing and asphalting of Hubballi-Vijayapura highway and Rs 60 crore to construct the bypass.

In the meeting, which was also attended by the Karnataka government officials, ministry officials directed the state officials to start repairing Hubballi-Vijayapura national highway immediately.

The repairing works include strengthening and widening of the road with paved shoulders and construction of a major bridge.

The meeting was held on the direction of Nitin Gadkari. Joshi, who met Gadkari on Tuesday, apprised him of the poor condition of the highways in north Karnataka and the Union Minister directed the officials to hold a meeting with the Dharwad MP and address the problems.

To check the rise in the number of accidents on the NH-4 stretch between Haveri and Hubballi, ministry officials directed the National Highway Authority of India to complete the work on service roads and construct new underpasses wherever required.

Joshi had stressed that the lack of underpasses and proper service lanes were major reasons for increase in the number of accidents and traffic snarls.

On upgrading Tadas-Kalghatagi-Dharwad-Hebbur-Navalgund-Annigeri state highways into national highways, the ministry said necessary orders will be issued by the government and provision will be made in the Annual Plan 2015-16 for preparation of detailed project report (DPR). After completion of the DPR, notification for upgradation will be issued.

Gadkari promised to address immediately the issue of illegal collection of toll on highways and said action would be taken against errant toll collectors.