MP demands greenfield expressway between Talapady in DK and Karwar in UK

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary highlighted the need for an expressway along the Karnataka coast in view of the existing Kanniyakumari-Panvel National Highway 66 becoming highly congested.

The proposed expressway between Talapady on Kerala-Karnataka border in Dakshina Kannada district and Karwar in Uttara Kannada district could run along the Mangaluru-Mumbai railway line, the MP told the Lok Sabha on December 18.

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has urged the Central Government to construct a greenfield expressway between Talapady in Dakshina Kannada district and Karwar in Uttara Kannada district along the Mangaluru-Mumbai railway line.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

Raising the issue under Rule 377 of Lok Sabha (Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business), Mr. Poojary said traffic congestion was constantly on the rise on NH 66 in coastal Karnataka.

Though the highway was made four-lane between Talapady and Karwar under different packages, it was unable to take the increasing volume of traffic. Consequently, road accidents and fatalities on the National Highway were also increasing. If a greenfield expressway was constructed between Talapady and Karwar, it could considerably reduce the burden on the existing four-lane highway while providing seamless travel for through-traffic, the member argued.

A tollgate on NH 66 at Talapady. Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary told the Lok Sabha that the existing four-lane Kanniyakumari-Panvel NH 66 has become congested.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

Mr. Poojary stated that the greenfield expressway has the potential to boost tourism in the interior parts of coastal Karnataka. The proposed highway could usher in a new era of economic development from Mangaluru to Goa, the MP stated.

Road widened under two packages

NH 66 along Karnataka coast was widened to four lanes under two packages — Talapady-Kundapura (90 km) excluding Nanthoor-Surathkal stretch, and Kundapura-Goa border (187 km). Toll collection on the Talapady-Kundapura section commenced in 2016 while on Kundapura-Goa border section, toll collection started in 2023.

Of the 187 km NH 66 on Kundapura-Goa border section, 173 km stretch has been made four-lane with balance stretches in Bhatkal, Honnavar and Kumta yet to be completed.

The six-lane NH 66 at Talapady on Karnataka-Kerala border. Six-laning of Kanniyakumari-Panvel National Highway 66, being executed by National Highways Authority of India between Talapady and Thiruvananthapuram, is almost nearing completion in Kerala.
| Photo Credit:
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

Widening of NH 66 between Talapady and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala into six lanes is almost complete. The proposed greenfield expressway is expected to complement the six-lane NH 66 of Kerala, and offer seamless travel from Thiruvananthapuram till Goa border.