Karwar: During the ongoing construction work of the National Highway 66 extension project in Uttar Kannada district, 125 accidents occurred within a span of six months, in which 28 were killed and 174 injured.

This figure was obtained from the Project Director's office of the National Highway Development Authority. Most of the accidents were reported in the months of June, July, and August, as the construction work of the road was kept closed due to the monsoon. For this cause of loss, the common people blame for the incomplete and unscientific construction work carried by the concerned contractors and officers. The public says that the contractors have not been able to alert the drivers of the motor vehicles at risky and dangerous spots on the highway. Moreover, every next day, the setting of work on the road is changed and the arrival of the vehicles is diverted from one side to another. In addition to this, the National Highway authorities are not arranging any Engineer for supervision purpose. Negligence in managing the inspection work periodically is also a reason behind the increase in the number of accidents.

The road construction work for a stretch of 187.28 km, from Byndoor to Karwar has been given to Mumbai based IRB company. This stretch of highway consists cities in between such as Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta, Ankola. It is said that the contract was done in March 2013 and according to it, within 910 days, the construction work was expected to be completed and to hand over this part of new four-lane Highway to the National Highway Authority. But the company has completed only the 60% of the work, due to which the vehicles moving on the highway fear for the accidents.