Capt. Chowta urges NHAI to immediately construct missing service road link at Bannadka on NH 169

Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately construct the missing service road link of about 700 m at Bannadka between Moodbidri and Karkala on Mangaluru-Solapur National Highway 169.

The MP came under attack from his constituents for allegedly remaining silent on repeated accidents and casualties due to “unscientific” handling of four-lane work by NHAI, including Bannadka. In his letter to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday, May 16, 2026, the MP said that NHAI is executing the 45 km Bikarnakatte (Mangaluru)-Sanoor (Karkala) four-lane project. Captain Chowta said he had witnessed many accidents in Bannadka, including the recent one that claimed the life of a local resident.

In the meeting held with neighborhood residents and road users, it was emphasized that the service road being interrupted by approximately 650-700 m in this location causes frequent accidents. Due to the missing connection, regular commuters and local traffic were forced to go in the wrong direction and dangerously cross the main high-speed carriageway, leading to repeated and avoidable accidents.

During consultations with NHAI officials, it was revealed that the service road has been completed from Km 697+400 to Km 702+210 and again from Km 702+850 to Km 704+000 on both sides. The MP said that the intermediate section between Km 702+210 and Km 702+850 was not touched.

He urged Mr. Gadkari to direct NHAI to immediately construct the service road on the missing link, thereby ensuring public safety and streamlining local traffic, preventing avoidable accidents.