Pics: Thejaswi U Poojary

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Feb 27: The Katapady overpass construction, which started in November 2025, is progressing at a rapid pace, with construction activities moving ahead smoothly. Local residents and commuters have raised concerns over the depth of the excavated highway portion.

The excavation work on the national highway stretch for vehicles travelling from Mangaluru towards Udupi has now been completed, marking a significant milestone in the project. The next phase, which includes the construction of a retention wall, is currently underway.

However, local residents have expressed concerns over the depth of the excavated highway portion. According to them, the dug-up section appears lower than the existing national highway level, which may lead to rainwater stagnation in the middle of the road during the monsoon season.

Responding to these concerns, the contractor, Kalam, clarified that the project has been planned with proper drainage arrangements to ensure the free flow of rainwater. He assured that once the road construction is fully completed, the level of the highway will be raised by approximately half a meter. “All necessary arrangements have been made after proper planning. The work is being carried out step by step to maintain quality and safety standards,” he said.

At present, vehicles travelling from Udupi are being diverted to the service road, while those coming from Mangaluru are using the other half of the national highway. Authorities informed that once the concrete work on the excavated stretch is completed, traffic movement will be rearranged. Vehicles from Udupi will then be diverted onto the newly completed highway stretch, and traffic from Mangaluru will be shifted to the service road. These phased diversions are aimed at ensuring uninterrupted traffic flow while allowing construction work to proceed efficiently.

With heavy construction activity in progress, preventive measures have been implemented to minimize inconvenience to residents and commuters. A green protective covering has been installed along portions of the construction site to prevent dust from spreading into nearby residential and commercial areas, also acting as a barrier. Barricades have also been placed along the service road stretch to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians.

The overpass project, which commenced at the end of November 2025, is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 17 crore by National Infra Project Company, following the model of the Kinnimulky overpass. Although the project was initially scheduled to begin in October 2025, with the tender process completed in March 2025, continuous heavy rainfall delayed the commencement of work.

The underpass will span a length of 550 meters and will have a height of 5.5 meters. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion at Katapady Junction and provide smoother connectivity between Mangaluru and Udupi.