Centre will support highway upgrade in north Karnataka: Belagavi MP

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has promised support from the Union Government to upgrade three State highways in north Karnataka into national highways.

Mr. Shettar met Mr. Gadkari in New Delhi on July 30.

The Union Minister told BJP MP Jagadish Shettar that the projects will be cleared on a case-by- case basis, depending on how fast the government of Karnataka moves with the projects.

The total cost of the three projects is around ₹1,775 crore.

The projects include upgrading the size and quality of the roads, and providing supporting infrastructure and passenger amenities along the way. The proposed state highways are:

• Jamboti to Rabkavi (State Highway 54)

• Raichur to Bachi (State Highway 20)

• Sankeshwar to Dharwad

The project proposals contain upgrading the stretch between KM 348.30 and KM 355.18 from two lanes to four lanes, and an upgrade of the 60-km four-lane Sankeshwar – Hukkeri – Ghataprabha – Gokak – Manolli – Saundatti – Dharwad route.

Developing them as national highways would significantly reduce traffic congestion and road accidents in the region, according to the proposal.