Media Release

Udupi, Jun 5: Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna, along with officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Udupi City Municipal Council, inspected the ongoing and proposed supplementary works at the Santhekatte underpass on National Highway 66.

Although the underpass construction has been completed and opened for vehicular movement, several supporting infrastructure works are yet to be undertaken. During the inspection, the MLA directed officials to expedite the implementation of various pending works to ensure smooth traffic flow and pedestrian safety.

The proposed works include the construction of bus shelters and public toilets on both sides of the highway, installation of dividers atop the underpass bridge, construction of retaining walls, development of a traffic circle at the Santhekatte-Nejar junction, widening of service road entry points on both sides, extension of safety railings along the service roads, laying of interlock paving alongside the service roads, and widening of the Ashirwad-Lakshminagar junction. He also emphasized the need for adequate street lighting and other measures to facilitate safe and convenient movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

Responding to public complaints that express buses bound for Kundapur are bypassing the Santhekatte junction and proceeding directly on the highway, Yashpal Suvarna instructed Transport Department officials to ensure that such buses use the service road and pass through the Santhekatte junction for the convenience of local commuters.

Udupi City Municipal commissioner Mahantesh Hangaragi, assistant executive engineer Durga Prasad, officials of the National Highways Authority of India, former Udupi City Municipal Council president Prabhakar Poojary, local leaders Umesh Shetty, Krishna Devadiga, Satish Naik, Uday, Chinmaya Murthy, Rama Poojary, Prasad Rao, Amit Poojary and Baikampady Suprasad Shetty and others were present during the inspection.