Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta (Retd) has announced that the Union Government has granted administrative approval for road development projects worth Rs 57 crore under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) to improve rural and urban connectivity across the district.

Under the scheme, 14 major road projects covering a total length of 82.94 km will be taken up across Dakshina Kannada. The works include the upgradation of important State highways and district roads in taluks such as Mangaluru, Ullal, Moodbidri, Puttur, Bantwal and Belthangady.

In Ullal taluk, Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for the development of the Katapady–Abbakka Circle Road stretch from Chembugudde to Machali Hotel and the road near Infosys, covering 2.66 km and 1 km respectively. Another Rs 2 crore has been allocated for the improvement of selected stretches of the Sajipanadu–Boliyar road spanning 2.88 km.

A sum of Rs 6 crore has been approved for upgrading the State Highway stretch from Hosangady Puchhamogaru Bridge in Moodbidri to the Belthangady–Bantwal Cross junction over a distance of 8.9 km.

The Surathkal–Kabaka State Highway from Bajpe to Kaikamba and from Polali Gate to Addoor Bridge will be improved at a cost of Rs 6 crore, covering 10.5 km. Similarly, the Pangalpady–Kudkoli stretch on the Punjalakatte–Moorje–Kudkoli road will be upgraded with an allocation of Rs 6 crore for a length of 10.07 km.

Other sanctioned projects include the improvement of the Uppinangady–Periyadka–Koyla road (Rs 2 crore, 3 km), Hantyaru–Bettampady road (Rs 3 crore, 4.5 km), and Kepulu–Padil road (Rs 1 crore, 0.65 km).

Selected stretches of the Subrahmanya–Manjeshwar State Highway will also be upgraded over 10.1 km at a cost of Rs 6 crore. The Venur–Andinje–Naravi district main road will be developed over 10 km with an allocation of Rs 6 crore.

Capt. Chowta said Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for the renovation of the Belthangady–Moodbidri–Mulki State Highway stretch from Excellent College to Moodbidri Police Station, covering 5 km.

The road linking NH-275 and SH-276 from Somantadka to Heddya will be upgraded over 5.5 km at a cost of Rs 5 crore. In Bantwal taluk, the Ananthadi–Mangilapadavu–Kodapadavu district main road will be widened and improved over a stretch of 3 km with an allocation of Rs 5 crore.

The MP said the projects would strengthen key connectivity corridors across the district, facilitate smoother transportation and support economic growth. He added that the upgraded road network is expected to provide a significant boost to trade, education and tourism in Dakshina Kannada once the works are completed.