Ahead of taking up total renewal and repair of battered stretches of Port Connectivity Road, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) cleans surface of carriageways on Panvel-Kochi National Highway 66 between Surathkal and Nanthoor, at Panambur in Mangaluru on August 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit: H S MANJUNATH
Anticipating massive traffic hold-ups on the crucial Panvel-Kochi National Highway 66 during the repair and total renewal of the battered Surathkal-Nanthoor stretch of the road, Mangaluru City Traffic Police have told the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to execute the work at night.
After early rains disrupted NHAI’s plans of total renewal of the 11-km stretch and repair of the battered Baikampady-Kulur stretch of the Port Connectivity Road (portions of NH 66 and NH 75) in May, the Authority proposed to recommence the work on August 7. The work would be undertaken during dry spells during off-peak hours in the day time and at night in coordination with MCTP, NHAI had said.
However, partial closure of the carriageways even during off-peak hours on August 7 had a cascading effect on vehicular movement, forcing the traffic police to suggest to NHAI to undertake the work at night.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) K. Ravishankar said, based on the experience, police told NHAI to take up repair work at night. “Filling of potholes on the Kulur old bridge is complete while major repair on the Kulur-Baikampady stretch is pending,” he said.
As a part of total renewal and repair of battered stretches of Port Connectivity Road, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) lays concrete on a battered stretch of Panvel-Kochi National Highway 66 at Baikampady Junction in Mangaluru on August 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
H S MANJUNATH
Following the advisory, the NHAI restricted the repair work to cleaning the surface of the carriageways, and clearing shoulder drains along the Surathkal-Nanthoor stretch. The NHAI also continued with laying concrete on a portion of the Udupi-Mangaluru carriageway near Baikampady Circle that is badly affected.
NHAI has proposed to undertake the repair and renewal work on behalf of New Mangalore Port Road Company Limited (NMPRC), the special purpose vehicle that constructed the Port Connectivity Road between B. C. Road and NITK-Surathkal, till August 13, if the dry spell continues.
Published – August 08, 2025 02:07 pm IST
