Udupi
The long-delayed second phase of the Santhekatte vehicular underpass is gaining momentum, with an increase in both workers and machinery on-site. Despite ongoing traffic congestion and challenging weather conditions, construction efforts are advancing swiftly, aiming to meet the revised completion deadline of early 2025 for the dual carriageway.
The first phase, which involved the completion of a two-lane road, had faced issues shortly after opening, with potholes emerging that made travel difficult. While workers have been attempting daily repairs, heavy traffic has caused these issues to recur quickly, compounded by ongoing rain that has slowed progress.
Increased site visits from local MPs and district officials have led to productive meetings with the National Highway Authority and the contractor, resulting in a notable uptick in the pace of work. Under pressure to expedite the project, the contractor is now focused on completing the second phase by the end of this year, with plans for the road to be fully operational by early 2025.
Currently, workers are engaged in demolishing topsoil and asphalt as part of constructing the second two-lane road of the underpass. Approximately 100 meters of the barrier wall from the Brahmavara side has been completed, with just 25 more meters remaining.
The surge in progress can be attributed to a significant increase in the workforce and machinery at the site. The number of workers has more than doubled from 25-30 to over 60, while the operational JCBs have increased from one to three or four. This upgraded machinery is being utilized to speed up critical tasks, such as road demolition and barrier construction.
