Tue Oct 14 15:27:24 UTC 2025: **News Article Summary:**
Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to swiftly commence the construction of a flyover at Katpady Junction on National Highway 66 in Udupi district, aiming for a start date next month. During a review meeting on national highway projects, Poojary emphasized the need for effective traffic diversion during construction, prompt relocation of electric poles, and expedited tree cutting with forest department approval. He also pushed for the speedy completion of the Santhekatte underpass and Ambalpady flyover projects. Poojary stressed the importance of installing streetlights near the Uchchila Mahalaxmi temple and addressing accident-prone “black spots” on the highway, lamenting the slow progress on the latter. Furthermore, he criticized NHAI for focusing solely on toll collection rather than comprehensive highway maintenance, and demanded the reconstruction of removed bus shelters on NH 169 A.
**Rewritten News Article:**
**MP Urges NHAI to Expedite Flyover Construction, Address Safety Concerns on Udupi Highways**
**MANGALURU, October 14, 2025** – Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has called upon the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to urgently begin construction of a much-needed flyover at Katpady Junction on National Highway 66 in Udupi district, targeting a start date in November.
Speaking at a meeting held in Udupi on Tuesday to assess the progress of ongoing national highway projects, MP Poojary outlined a series of key directives to expedite the project and improve road safety. He stressed the importance of meticulous traffic management during the construction phase and demanded that electric poles be relocated and tree cutting initiated promptly, with the necessary permissions from the Forest Department secured.
In addition to the Katpady flyover, Poojary emphasized the need to accelerate the completion of the Santhekatte underpass and the Ambalpady flyover, both situated on NH 66 in Udupi. He also advocated for the installation of streetlights near the Uchchila Mahalaxmi temple to enhance visibility and safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Expressing concern over road safety, Poojary highlighted the slow progress in addressing the 22 identified “black spots” on NH 66, only two of which have seen remedial action so far. He urged NHAI to prioritize these accident-prone areas.
“The highway maintenance works should not be limited to just toll collection,” Poojary stated, criticizing what he perceives as a narrow focus by the NHAI. He further demanded the reconstruction of six bus shelters on NH 169 A that were removed during highway widening.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including Udupi Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa, MLAs Yashpal A. Suvarna, Gurme Suresh Shetty, and Kiran Kumar Kodgi, District Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, and NHAI’s Mangaluru Office Project Director Abdullah Mohammed Azmi. The MP’s directives reflect a growing concern for infrastructure development and road safety within the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency.
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