Make DPR to widen NH 4 Bypass, Joshi tells officials

GURURAJ JAMKHANDI | Aug 9, 2020, 04:45 IST

Dharwad: The Pune-Bengaluru National Highway-4 bypass from Narendra Cross to Gabbur Cross has become a death trap with fatal accidents being reported on the road at frequent intervals.
The two-lane road constructed in 2000 has failed to serve the purpose. With increasing traffic, the road has proved to be very narrow. The bypass is constructed and managed on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis by Nandi Highway Developers and legal hurdles are said to have blocked the road widening work.
Union minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi said the legal hurdles are being resolved and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials have been asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for widening the road into six lanes.
Joshi held a video conference with the officials concerned on Wednesday and was told that the DPR is in the final stage. Later speaking to TOI, Joshi said he asked officials to include a service road on either side of the track in the DPR and send it to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and National Highways before August 15.
Joshi told officials to ensure all works pertaining to highways and other roads funded by the Central government are completed within a time frame and the funds should not be allowed to lapse. If there is delay, the officer concerned will be held responsible, he warned.
Joshi also directed officials to prepare a DPR for the construction of a bypass near Navalgund town. State large and medium industries minister Jagadish Shettar, who also participated in the video conference, said the highway near Navalgund is full of potholes and asked officials to complete the work at the earliest.
Deputy chief minister Govind Karjol who holds the PWD portfolio said he directed officials to complete all the works at the earliest at the meeting held at Bengaluru.
Hubballi-Dharwad West MLA Arvind Bellad, additional chief secretary (PWD) Rajanish Goel, NHAI officer Vijaykumar, Dharwad deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil and others were present during the video conference.