Machinery at work on the Macche–Halga bypass along the Belagavi–Panaji corridor of National Highway 748.
BELAGAVI
In a major relief for commuters and transporters travelling between Goa and northern Karnataka, authorities have directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to speed up work on the long-delayed Macche–Halga bypass along the Belagavi–Panjim corridor of National Highway 748.
The 13.33 km stretch of the bypass, pending for nearly six years, is now expected to be completed by December. Once operational, the project is likely to significantly ease traffic congestion within Belagavi city, which currently faces heavy pressure from multi-axle trucks and goods vehicles moving between Goa and southern Karnataka.
Belagavi serves as a key transit hub for cargo and tourist traffic travelling to and from Goa. Every day, hundreds of heavy vehicles bound for cities such as Hyderabad, Dharwad and Kolhapur pass through the city, leading to severe congestion and increasing the risk of road accidents.
Responding to the urgency, NHAI has intensified construction activity along the route, deploying additional manpower and heavy machinery at critical locations.
Work has particularly accelerated near the incomplete flyover at Macche on the Khanapur–Belagavi stretch of NH-748.
Once completed, the bypass will provide a direct link for long-distance vehicles to the busy National Highway 48 corridor, allowing traffic to bypass the city entirely.
Officials noted that around 15 km of NH-748 was opened for traffic early last year. However, the remaining section faced delays after farmers in Belagavi taluka challenged the acquisition of fertile agricultural land in court. Construction resumed after the High Court lifted the stay order and granted clearance for the project.
According to NHAI Project Director Bhuvanesh Kumar, most of the civil works are nearing completion. A few underpasses and the revised construction of a railway overbridge remain pending, while cement road laying is currently underway. If work continues without interruption, the bypass could be opened to traffic by December.
Meanwhile, Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar has reviewed progress of the broader 13.33-km Halga–Macche bypass project and instructed officials to adhere strictly to deadlines. A crucial 4-km segment connecting Suvarna Soudha to VTU is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026.
Once operational, the bypass is expected to reduce travel time, help transporters avoid city entry restrictions imposed by police on heavy vehicles, and improve connectivity between Goa and major highway corridors in Karnataka.
