Union ministry wants Hubballi-Chitradurga stretch expanded by September

Haveri: The Covid-19 crisis has slammed the brakes on various ongoing infrastructure projects, among which are expansion and improvement of national highways. The stretch of one such national highway, the expansion of which has been delayed owing to the crisis is the Hubballi-Chitragurga road. The 215km-stretch is being upgraded to a six-lane road, but following the enforcement of the lockdown, work on the ambitious project was halted. Now, the Union ministry of road transport and highways has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure that work on the project is wrapped up by September.
Sources said that work on major bridges and grade separators remained to be completed, which NHAI authorities hoped to finish before the deadline. “Funds to the tune of Rs 3,600 crore were earmarked for the project. Roughly 114km of the entire stretch was widened to a six-lane in July 2019, but pace has slackened since,” a source said.
NHAI project director for Chitradurga Srinivas Naidu admitted to completion of the project being delayed owing to the lockdown and the Covid-19 crisis. “But work is proceeding apace in Chalageri and Chatra in Haveri district, and in parts of Chitradurga and Davanagere. The project was scheduled to be completed by July 23, 2020. But owing to circumstances beyond our control, work has been delayed,” Naidu said.
NHAI project director for Hubballi SB Pothadar added that heavy rain in August and October last year too had played a role in delaying the project’s completion. “Work on bridges in Shiggavi, Tavarumellalli, Varur and Kundagol has picked up pace after the lockdown was lifted. We are confident of completing the project soon and meeting the revised deadline,” Pothadar said.