Bhatkal: National highways and major arterial roads passing through Uttara Kannada district are increasingly turning into danger zones, with alarming road accident figures raising serious concerns over traffic management and infrastructure gaps.
According to official data, the district recorded 815 road accidents in the past one year, claiming 192 lives, while over 650 people sustained serious and minor injuries and are undergoing treatment at various hospitals. What were once considered vital connectivity routes are now emerging as chronic accident-prone stretches.
Experts and local residents attribute the surge in mishaps to heavy traffic congestion, unsafe road design, and inadequate safety measures. Despite a sharp rise in vehicle density along coastal national highways, corresponding improvements in road widening, signage, and safety infrastructure have lagged behind, triggering widespread criticism.
One of the most devastating incidents occurred in January 2025 at Gullapur on the Yellapur–Ankola highway, where a goods vehicle overturned, killing 11 daily-wage workers on the spot and injuring 19 others. The tragedy sent shockwaves across the district. More recently, a school excursion turned fatal near Honavar, where the death of a child once again highlighted the fragile safety conditions on district roads.
Several key routes continue to pose serious risks. The Sirsi–Kumta road, under construction for nearly two years, remains incomplete despite the resumption of bus services. Partially finished stretches and sharp curves continue to endanger commuters. Similarly, the Yellapur–Ankola highway is riddled with potholes and hazardous bends, making it one of the most accident-prone corridors in the region.
Motorists are also struggling with unscientific curves and a glaring lack of proper signboards across both highways and internal roads, often leading to confusion and sudden mishaps, particularly for outstation drivers.
37,000 Traffic Violations in 2025
While the police have intensified enforcement to curb accidents, violations remain rampant. In 2025 alone, over 37,000 traffic rule violation cases were registered across Uttara Kannada district. Major offences include driving without headlights, overspeeding, drunk driving, and illegally transporting passengers in goods vehicles.
Authorities have collected fines amounting to several lakhs of rupees, and repeat offenders are reportedly facing recommendations for cancellation of driving licences. However, officials admit that enforcement alone cannot compensate for infrastructural shortcomings.
With accident numbers continuing to climb, residents and road safety activists are urging the government to prioritise scientific road design, timely completion of projects, improved signage, and stricter monitoring, warning that delays could cost many more lives.