Sun Nov 17 08:40:08 UTC 2024: ## Mangaluru-Dharmasthala Highway Remains Impassable Despite Widening Project

**Mangaluru, November 17, 2024** – Commuters traveling between Mangaluru and Dharmasthala are facing significant hardship due to the poor condition of National Highway 73, currently undergoing widening. While the project, initiated in June 2022 with a budget of ₹718 crore, aims to improve the 35km stretch between Punjalakatte and Charmadi, the existing carriageway is severely damaged in many areas, rendering sections impassable.

Drivers report travel times of over two and a half hours between Mangaluru and Dharmasthala, a journey that should take significantly less time. The worst affected areas include the stretch between Guruvayanakere and Ujire, where a four-laning project is underway. The poor condition is attributed to the contractor’s method of working, which left large sections of the road excavated simultaneously, leading to slush and damage during the monsoon season.

The original April 2025 deadline is expected to be extended by six months due to heavy rains and challenging terrain, according to a senior PWD engineer. While the engineer claims progress has improved since the contract was informally transferred to M/s Mugrodi Constructions in August, significant work remains on bridges and cross-drains. Bitumen laying has also been hampered by unpredictable rainfall.

Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, who facilitated the change in contractors, expressed confidence in the project’s eventual completion. He attributed delays to the previous contractor’s approach of simultaneously excavating the entire stretch, causing significant disruption. The ₹390 crore contract originally awarded to M/s D.P. Jain proved unfruitful due to their inability to execute the project effectively.

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