Portion of the carriageway of Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66 near NITK-Surathkal, which is part of the Surathkal-B C Road Port Connectivity Road, was completely relaid under the total renewal package by the National Highways Authority of India on Saturday, June 7, in Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit: H S MANJUNATH
The week-long dry spell has helped the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to partially complete the total renewal of the Port Connectivity Road on the Surathkal-B C Road section comprising portions of National Highway 66 and NH 75.
While the total renewal of the 11 k.m. stretch of the 37.42 k.m. Port Connectivity Road, built by the New Mangalore Port Road Company Ltd., was launched on April 24 by Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta. Rains lashing the region from May third week hampered the renewal work. M/s Mugrodi Constructions had bagged the contract for total renewal at an estimated cost of ₹28.58 crore.
The NHAI, working on behalf of the NMPRL, had commenced milling (scraping) the identified highway surface from NITK-Surathkal and relayed bitumen concrete on certain stretch; but it had to stop the work mid-way following torrential rains. Consequently, road users, particularly two-wheeler riders, had a tough time negotiating the stretch even as potholes and craters continued to haunt them along the stretch.
The Authority resumed the renewal work after the rains subsided from last one week and completed laying bitumen concrete on the milled stretch of about 1.5 km from Tadambail towards the City, according to an official. It may not further mill the balance stretch as the rains were expected to resume in the coming week and complete the work soon after the Monsoon.
Clearing drains
Shoulder drains on the flanks of Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66, part of Surathkal-B C Roat Port Connectivity Road, were cleared by the National Highways Authority of India as a part of total renewal work of the Port Road on June 7, Saturday, near New Mangalore Port in Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit:
H S MANJUNATH
The improper maintenance of the Port Road over the years had resulted in the shoulder drains remaining clogged thereby preventing free flow of rainwater and damaging the carriageway surface.
Along with the renewal of the carriageways, the NHAI has now started clearing the drains, particularly on the New Mangalore Port stretch between Baikampady and Kulur.
As the Authority would not be able to relay the roads immediately, it would fix potholes and craters on the Surathkal-KPT stretch on NH 66 to ensure road users would not get affected during the Monsoon, the official said.
Waterlogging cleared
The National Highways Authority of India has built a cross drain using concrete pipes to prevent waterlogging on Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway 75, part of Surathkal-B C Road Port Connectivity Road, on June 7, Saturday, at Thumbay near Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Meanwhile, the Authority has built a cross-drain using cement pipes near Thumbay on Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH 75, part of the Port Road, that witnessed massive waterlogging during rains. The waterlogging besides inconveniencing road users, had resulted in road mishaps too.
The National Highways Authority of India has built a cross drain using concrete pipes to prevent waterlogging on Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway 75, part of Surathkal-B C Road Port Connectivity Road, on June 7, Saturday, at Thumbay near Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The just-completed cross drain was able to prevent waterlogging on the stretch with the accumulated rainwater draining out on the southern side of the highway, the official said.
Published – June 08, 2025 12:13 pm IST