Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary, on Tuesday, instructed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to complete the pending service road and other works on the Hejmady-Kundapur stretch of Kanyakumari-Panvel National Highway 66 in a time-bound manner to ensure public safety, smooth traffic movement, and reduce road accidents.

Chairing a review meeting on NH 66 at his office in Manipal, Mr. Poojary said service road works were pending at some stretches, including 830 metres from Koteshwar Junction to Beejadi Cross, 3.5 km on both sides on the Beejadi-Kumbhashi-Thekkatte stretch, 1.02 km in Thekkatte, 400 metres in Brahmavara, 1 km in Santekate, and about 325 metres in Udyavara.

The MP said that construction of service roads was yet to begin in some parts of NH 66, and that the inadequacy of drains was also observed. He said the highway stretch between Kinnimulki and Ambalapady was in a pathetic condition and instructed the NHAI to immediately undertake temporary repair works.

He said that, as per a Union government circular and a Supreme Court order, there was a prohibition on the construction of commercial buildings within 75 metres of the centre line of any national highway. In this regard, a special meeting would be convened by the Deputy Commissioner to discuss remedial measures that could be taken within the legal framework.

NHAI Project Director Abdulla Javed Azmi and others were present.

Toll exemption

Meanwhile, Udupi Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa on Tuesday said she would write to the government seeking an exemption from toll payments for residents around Hejmady Toll Plaza on NH 66 on the lines of the one given to residents around Sasthana and Shiroor toll plazas.

Chairing a meeting on national highway toll collection at Manipal, she said the exemption was given to people residing within a 10 km radius of the two toll plazas. Hejmady residents too had been demanding a similar exemption, as they have to cross the plaza multiple times a day for their routine work.

Published - August 18, 2026 08:51 pm IST