BELAGAVI
In a relief to commuters from Goa and North Karnataka, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up repairs of the dilapidated stretch of the Belagavi-Goa NH4A.
The NHAI has taken up repair work of the 58-km stretch between Khanapur and Anmod from Tuesday at an estimated cost of Rs 4.95 crore.
“Apart from repairing potholes on the highway, asphalting of the highway will be also e taken up to facilitate movement of light and heavy vehicles. Repairs of old bridge at Astoli near Ramnagar and completion of the new parallel bridge will be also done,” a senior NHAI official said.
It may be recalled that the stretch of the NH4A had deteriorated as the contractor had left the work incomplete due to the stay obtained by environmentalists.
Heavy rains in July had further worsened the condition and the entire stretch was severely damaged while the bridges near Londa and Astoli were also damaged, causing huge problems to the commuters and the villagers.
Khanapur MLA Anjali Nimbalkar had staged a Rasta Roko to protest against the bad stretch of highway, while former Karnataka minister R V Deshpande had taken up the matter with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Heavy vehicles were left stranded for over a week near Ramnagar, resulting in shortage of supply of certain goods and commodities to Goa.
The repair work is expected to be complete within a month and traffic will be allowed to operate, the NHAI official said.
Meanwhile, commuters and villagers in the vicinity welcomed the launch of the repair work by the NHAI.
