PTI
 
Mangalore, Oct 12: The Karnataka Government has proposed to construct a four-lane highway between the coastal city of Mangalore and Hassan at an estimated Rs 100 crore, looking to increase the connectivity to the port there.

The Karnataka Public Works Minister H D Revanna on Wednesday told reporters here that the proposal had been submitted to the central Minister of State for Highways T R Baalu .

The centre had, however, agreed to provide only Rs seven crore for the purpose, he said, asserting that the State Government would take up the work on BOOT (Build-Own-Operate Transfer) system.

The upgrade of the highway was made inevitable so as to cater to the excessive tanker and lorry traffic on the route, Revanna said.

A request has also been made to construct a second bridge near Suratkal as the present one is in a dilapidated condition, he said.

Revanna said the highway-stretch between Udupi and Kundapur would be handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) soon for construction of the four-lane highway.