Hubballi-Dharwad bypass road widening likely.

The government is ready to terminate the contract with Nandi Highway Development Limited (NHDL) to further widen the Hubballi-Dharwad bypass road, if needed, said Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna.

Inaugurating the new building at the Circuit House here on Wednesday, Mr. Revanna said the stretch has turned into a bottleneck on NH 4. There were several complaints related to accidents and traffic congestion here. Therefore, the local administration has been directed to hold a comparative study on traffic when the contract was signed and the status at present. They have also been asked to collect information about the number and nature of mishaps on the road. Widening this stretch was very much necessary. The government would not hesitate to terminate the contract with NHDL and pursue it legally. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has agreed to develop this stretch into six-lane road, he said.

Mr. Revanna said the State government was serious about improving road network both inside and outside Hubballi-Dharwad. Local representatives have proposed an underpass near Desai Circle and improvement of various roads connecting Railway Station. In addition to giving approval for these work on the spot, the department has ensured funds to take up them at the earliest, he added.

He and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Jagadish Shettar, Pralhad Joshi and other representatives will be meeting Union Minister for Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari with several proposals. Building flyovers in Hubballi-Dharwad and developing another ring road from Tadas Cross to Dharwad were on top of the list. A detailed project report of a Rs. 350 crore flyover and Rs. 450 crore proposal for developing Varur Cross-Dharwad Ring Road will be submitted to the Union government. Along with these, the State has thought of seeking the loan from the Centre to develop roads sanctioned under Central Road Fund, he said.

THE HINDU