Bypass road construction in full swing for NH 169A in Karnataka’s Agumbe

The tiny town of Agumbe in Karnataka where vehicular traffic from about three districts converge and move towards their destinations, is getting a bypass road to offer seamless movement of vehicles between Udupi and Shivamogga.

The National Highways Division of Karnataka Public Works Department (NH-PWD) that is widening Malpe-Tirthahalli National Highway 169A has undertaken construction of the bypass in Agumbe as a part of Agumbe-Megaravalli highway widening project.

The 17-km NH 169A between these two small towns is being widened into two-lanes with paved shoulders at an estimated cost of ₹64 crore.

NH-PWD is already widening NH 169A between Malpe and Hebri in Udupi district into four lanes, work of which is in advanced stages. Widening of Megaravalli-Tirthahalli (14.6 km) stretch of the highway to two lanes with paved shoulders is already done.

Work on widening the Tirthahalli-Shivamogga stretch of Mangaluru-Solapur NH 169 however is yet to commence in full swing for want of forest clearances in some stretches though the NH-PWD has commenced preparatory works in the clear stretches, said a senior engineer concerned.

The under construction bypass road for Malpe-Tirthahalli NH 169A seeks to avoid a 90 degree curve at the junction inside the tiny town.
| Photo Credit:
Anil Kumar Sastry

Increased traffic volume

Over the past one decade, the number of vehicles, particularly private cars of tourists passing through and visiting Agumbe has increased manifolds. While the Agumbe-Koppa/Sringeri State Highway moves straight at Agumbe Circle, the one towards Tirthahalli takes a sharp left turn.

Work on widening NH 169A into four lanes going on at a brisk pace between Parkala and Hiriyadka

The engineer said the bypass is being constructed to avoid this 90 degree curve that often becomes a blind spot with merging vehicular traffic in all three directions. The bypass begins after Ganesh Grand and joins the existing road towards Tirthahalli just after Agumbe bus stand.

Meanwhile Agumbe police said though no fatal accident was reported in the town recently, minor accidents do happen because of the blind turn at the Circle. The situation gets aggravated during the Monsoon during which time thick fog envelops the region throughout day and night, police said. Agumbe is called the Cherrapunji of South India as it receives the highest amount of annual rainfall.