Vamanjoor junction near Mangaluru on July 22, 2026. NHAI will construct a Foot Overbridge (FoB) at the junction on Mangaluru-Solapur National Highway 169, which is being widened to four lanes between Bikarnakatte and Sanoor.
\| Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY

Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta informed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has given in-principle approval for the construction of left-over service roads at Bannadka and a foot overbridge at Vamanjoor (Vamanjur), on the Mangaluru-Solapur National Highway 169, which is being widened into four lanes between Bikarnakatte (Mangaluru) and Sanoor (Karkala).

On July 22, Capt. Chowta informed that the projects would be taken up at an estimated cost of ₹5.83 crore by Dilip Buildcon Limited.

Residents of Bannadka had been fuming over repeated accidents in the village because of the absence of service roads for a distance of 700 metres that forced them to drive against the traffic. The accidents were attributed to driving against the traffic and crossing the median.

The MP said construction of service roads stretching 700 metres, with drainage and box culverts, would be taken up at an estimated cost of ₹4.12 crore.

FoB at Vamanjoor

The NHAI also approved a well-equipped FoB at an estimated cost of ₹1.7 crore at Vamanjoor to allow people to cross the 4-lane highway safely at Vamanjoor junction. In this regard, the NHAI Bengaluru Regional Office has sent a letter to Dilip Buildcon, the MP said.

Capt. Chowta said the NHAI has asked the contractor to submit the final change of scope (COS) letter for construction of service roads and FoB, and submit a detailed cost estimate and design drawings to commence work at the site immediately.

The construction would be hastened after verification of the technical drawings is completed, with the additional work expected to provide a permanent solution to the traffic problems faced by motorists and people in these areas.

Capt. Chowta, along with Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian, had visited Bannadka following complaints about the unscientific 4-lane road construction. Thereafter, he wrote to the Centre, urging Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to direct the NHAI to construct service roads and also an FoB at Vamanjoor.

Published - July 22, 2026 01:00 pm IST