Major widening of Charmadi Ghat on NH-73 at ₹343.74 crore to boost connectivity in Karnataka

The Charmadi Ghat expansion will widen an 11-kilometer stretch into a two-lane road, enhancing passenger and freight transport between key areas in Karnataka.

Published on: Nov 10, 2024, 10:30:10 IST

By Yamini C S

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta announced plans on Saturday for a significant expansion of the Charmadi Ghat section of National Highway-73, a crucial route through Karnataka’s Western Ghats. The project, funded with an allocation of ₹343.74 crore, aims to widen the 11-kilometer stretch into a two-lane road, greatly enhancing connectivity across key areas.

ALSO READ | 'Almost got trafficked, raped…': Woman recounts after taking cab at Bengaluru airport

The Charmadi Ghat expansion, connecting Mangaluru, Mudigere, and Tumakuru, is expected to boost both passenger and freight transportation, especially benefiting Karnataka’s coastal districts. Capt. Chowta confirmed that with the tender process now complete, construction is set to begin shortly, offering a much-needed improvement for travellers and local commerce alike.

ALSO READ | Bengaluru airport sees rare runway traffic jam as planes queue for takeoff. Watch video

Capt. Chowta expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and the officials who helped bring the project to fruition. He underscored the project’s significance, noting that the upgrades will address long-standing traffic issues in the narrow and often congested Charmadi Ghat. This expansion will not only resolve traffic congestion but will make this route a far more reliable travel corridor, he said.

ALSO READ | Karnataka Covid-19 inquiry recommends prosecution of BS Yediyurappa: Dinesh Gundu Rao

The expanded section is anticipated to ease travel between coastal areas and interior regions like Chikkamagaluru and Hassan, while also streamlining access for those traveling toward Bengaluru. However, while the project is expected to bolster local transport infrastructure, National Highway authorities have indicated that it remains unclear if this upgrade will support the transport of container goods, including coffee and spices, from New Mangaluru Port.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.