Mangaluru
The road widening for the Vehicular Overpass (VoP) at Nanthoor Junction in Mangaluru has brought relief to the city’s notorious traffic congestion, especially during peak hours. The asphalting of potholes and widening of the NH-66 flanks to accommodate service roads has significantly improved traffic flow, though challenges remain. The junction, a crucial link between Kochi and Mumbai, has long been a bottleneck, with traffic gridlocks and accidents plaguing commuters.
Since the four-lane project began in 2008 under the Mangalore Port Road Company, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had neglected necessary improvements, worsening the situation. Traffic East Police Inspector E Anand noted that the recent asphalting has sped up traffic, reducing waiting times by more than half. Previously, long queues would stretch for miles, especially on the Bikarnakatte and KPT sides, but now the traffic moves much more smoothly.
The widening of the NH-66 flanks has enabled the construction of service roads, allowing free-left turns from KPT-Padavu to Bikkarnakatte and from Bikkarnakatte to Pumpwell. Traffic Constable Sharat also expressed relief, noting that motorists no longer cut across lanes due to prolonged waits. However, gridlocks still occur on the KPT-Padavu and Bikkarnakatte sides when large vehicles navigate the roundabout.
