Bhatkal: Four months after the long-pending four-laning work on National Highway (NH) 66 resumed in the heart of Bhatkal town, public difficulties appear to be mounting rather than easing, with service roads and drainage works progressing at a slow pace.
The situation has raised fresh concerns among residents, traders and motorists, particularly around Shamsuddin Circle, the KSRTC bus stand and the junction near the Taluk Panchayat office. The latest concerns come amid repeated complaints over the slow progress of the project and inadequate drainage arrangements along the town stretch. Earlier this year, police had advised motorists to avoid NH-66 within Bhatkal town as far as possible because of severe congestion caused by the construction work.
Satish Kumar, president of the Bhatkal Taluka Nagarik Hitarakshana Samithi, which has been at the forefront of the campaign for completion of the highway works, said the forum had raised objections even before the latest phase of construction began.
According to Kumar, at a meeting held in the presence of the Assistant Commissioner, the forum had insisted that service roads and stormwater drains be constructed before the main highway work was completed.
He said highway officials had initially sought permission to complete the main carriageway first and take up the service roads and drains later. The Vedike opposed the proposal, apprehending that once the main highway was completed, the authorities could show substantial progress to the district administration while leaving essential supporting infrastructure unfinished.
Although the highway authorities initially began work on service roads and drains following pressure from the Vedike, the focus subsequently shifted towards completing the main highway, while the complementary works continued at a much slower pace, Kumar alleged.
The delay has reportedly caused significant hardship to roadside traders, many of whom have been facing business losses for several months because of construction activity, restricted access and traffic disruption.
Shamsuddin Circle, one of Bhatkal's busiest junctions, has emerged as a major traffic bottleneck. The situation is particularly difficult around the KSRTC bus stand, which extends roughly 25 to 100 metres from the circle.
According to local residents and motorists, buses arriving in Bhatkal from Kundapur can reach the bus stand relatively easily, but buses departing towards Kundapur often struggle to exit the bus stand and merge onto the highway. Similarly, buses arriving from Honnavar face difficulties entering the bus stand, while buses travelling from Bhatkal towards Honnavar can move out comparatively easily.
The resulting congestion has reportedly placed KSRTC drivers in an uncomfortable situation, with drivers frequently facing the anger of passengers and other motorists over traffic delays that are beyond their control.
Another accident-prone point is the junction in front of the Taluk Panchayat office, where the newly widened four-lane section meets the existing two-lane road. Residents say accidents have become a regular occurrence at the junction.
Drainage remains an equally serious concern. Shamsuddin Circle was already notorious for waterlogging even during ordinary rainfall, with water reportedly accumulating to nearly a foot. Residents had hoped that the elevated new highway would finally resolve the long-standing problem. However, despite the new road being raised by around four feet from the existing ground level, waterlogging has reportedly continued in front of the bus stand.
The concern is not merely about inconvenience. Water accumulating on a high-speed national highway can pose a serious safety hazard. Fast-moving vehicles passing through stagnant water can suddenly splash water onto nearby two-wheeler riders, potentially startling them and increasing the risk of accidents. Residents have questioned why such risks have not been adequately addressed as part of the ongoing construction.
Drainage concerns along this stretch are not new. Earlier inspections and reports had identified waterlogging at Shamsuddin Circle, Ranginkatta and other parts of NH-66. Officials have previously acknowledged drainage-related problems, while clogged or ineffective culverts near the KSRTC bus stand and Noor Masjid have also been reported.
In May this year, a brief pre-monsoon shower was enough to expose weaknesses in the drainage arrangements, with waterlogging reported at Shamsuddin Circle, Ranginkatta and other stretches of the highway. Residents had warned that inadequate drainage could result in more severe waterlogging once the monsoon intensified.
The situation is particularly concerning because the latest phase of construction began only about a month before the onset of the monsoon, and the pace of work has since slowed further amid the rains.
The NH-66 project in Bhatkal has already faced years of delays. Four-laning work on the Bhatkal stretch was initiated in 2013 and was originally targeted for completion in 2017. The prolonged delay, coupled with continuing problems related to traffic management, service roads and drainage, has left residents and traders questioning when the town will finally get a fully functional and safe highway corridor.