Bhatkal: The National Highways of Uttara Kannada district, known for their scenic beauty and tourism potential, are today beating the drums of death. Crumbling roads, unscientific execution of projects and uncontrolled vehicular movement have turned these highways into blood-soaked stretches. In a deeply alarming trend, as many as 726 people have lost their lives and 5,124 others have suffered serious injuries in road accidents across the district over the last three years.
Official statistics ring alarm bells
According to official data released by the District Police Department, the number of road accidents has shown a steady increase from 2023 to 2025.
In 2023, a total of 233 road accidents were reported, claiming 248 lives. In 2024, the number of accidents rose to 264. In 2025, so far, 192 accidents have already resulted in the deaths of 214 people.
A majority of these accidents have occurred on National Highways, with rain-induced potholes, incomplete roadworks and poorly managed construction sites emerging as the primary causes of fatalities.
Bhatkal emerges as an accident hotspot
Bhatkal, through which National Highway-66 passes, has become a major accident-prone zone, triggering widespread fear and anger among the public. In a shocking revelation, seven people, including students and young adults, lost their lives within a span of just one month along a 600-metre stretch, exposing the unscientific nature of the highway project.
Repeated accidents reported in areas such as Nawayath Colony, Murdeshwar–Bastimakki stretch, and near the old Venkatapur bridge have disturbed the peace of local residents. Locals allege that the situation worsened after the closure of the old bridge and the introduction of two-way traffic on the newly constructed bridge, increasing the risk of collisions.
Delayed works and vanished service roads
Citizens allege that the slow pace of highway widening works and the absence of proper service roads are the root causes of the rising accidents. Although the four-laning project was supposed to be completed within three years, more than a decade has passed without its completion.
As the highway cuts through the heart of the town, pedestrians, two-wheeler riders and local residents are forced to commute under constant fear. Several stretches lack service roads and adequate signage, while during the monsoon, large portions of the highway turn into waterlogged stretches resembling ponds—posing yet another major threat to road users.
Public outrage: ‘These are not accidents, but murders due to negligence’
Expressing strong resentment, Satish Kumar Naik, President of the Citizens’ Welfare Protection Committee, said the delay in the NH-66 widening project has cost numerous lives in Bhatkal.
“The widening work of National Highway-66 has been dragging on for years, and people are dying because of it. The IRB company has been harassing citizens for the last 13 years. Compared to other parts of the district, there is absolutely no progress in Bhatkal. Two months ago, during a meeting with the project director, we were assured that work would begin within a week. That promise has turned out to be nothing more than an eyewash,” he alleged.
He further stated that incomplete and chaotic construction work is directly responsible for the accidents. “With no clarity in road design, drivers from outside enter the town at high speed, and locals are forced to pay the price with their lives. Many of the recent incidents in Bhatkal are not accidents at all, but sponsored killings caused by the negligence of the IRB company,” he charged.
Bypass plan buried under vested interests
At the initial stage of the four-lane highway project, experts and public representatives had suggested the construction of a bypass road outside the town to reduce congestion and prevent accidents. A parallel bypass route connecting Shamsuddin Circle to Shirali via Sarpanakatte had also been proposed.
However, due to the vested interests of influential individuals and land-related considerations, the project was stalled and has not been implemented to this day. Senior journalists point out that if the bypass had been constructed, the town centre would have remained safer, and urban expansion would have naturally moved towards the outskirts. Instead, the municipal administration allegedly bowed to pressure from land mafias and wealthy investors and opted to widen the existing highway—leading to the present dangerous situation.
Police action fails to offset unsafe infrastructure
In an attempt to control accidents, the police department has intensified enforcement measures. During 2025 alone, a total of 1,41,870 cases were registered under the Motor Vehicles Act. Action was taken against 1,139 overspeeding drivers, and fines amounting to ₹2.84 crore were collected. Additionally, 810 driving licences were suspended for traffic violations.
However, the public questions whether penalties and legal action alone can solve the problem when road infrastructure itself remains unsafe and unscientific.
Public demands urgent action
To reduce the frequency of accidents, citizens have demanded the immediate installation of warning signboards at dangerous curves, proper street lighting and separate pedestrian pathways. People of the district insist that highway authorities must prioritise public safety over mere project completion.
Despite toll collection continuing at the Shirur Toll Gate, the incomplete state of roadworks has further fuelled public resentment. Citizens warn that unless authorities and elected representatives wake up and adopt scientific road safety measures immediately, the highways of Uttara Kannada will continue to claim more lives.