BELAGAVI
Amid lockdown, work on the 25-km Belagavi-Khanapur stretch of the Belagavi-Panaji NH4A highway has received a major boost and is on the verge of completion.
On completion, the six-lane stretch of the NH4A is expected to offer an enhanced travel experience to commuters.
According to sources, only about a kilometre near Khanapur is left to be completed and the highway will then be opened to traffic.
When work had begun in 2012, the PWD officials, staff and machinery had started felling a number of trees along the old highway, much to the anger of the environment activists.
Work of six-laning a 5-km stretch from the 3rd Railway Gate had also begun and the 5-km stretch from the Railway Over Bridge at Goaves to Macche has also been completed.
“The journey between Belagavi City and Khanapur will now be swift, smooth and safe. Besides, the entire stretch has a service road on the either side and also has diversions, underpasses and overbridges at important junction to make the journey easier,” a PWD official said.
“The work on a 5-km bypass around Khanapur town is in progress and is expected to complete by December. Once completed, considerable time will be saved in bypassing Khanapur,” an official said.
However, the widening work between Khanapur and Anmod has hit a major roadblock and has come to a halt due to objections by environmentalists.
