Now Reading: Five die at Arate as old bridge work drags on NH 66
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Five die at Arate as old bridge work drags on NH 66
The Story in Brief
At least five people have died and hundreds have been injured on NH 66 in Udupi district since the 60-year-old Souparnika bridge was closed for rehabilitation in November 2024 and two-way traffic was shifted to the new bridge at Arate. Two buses collided head-on near the bridge on 25 October, injuring 26 passengers, three critically. A scooterist died in a head-on collision with a car at the same spot on 26 October.
Residents allege the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been a mute spectator to the two-year delay. Work on replacing the superstructure has progressed at a slow pace with few workers, they said. Traffic diversion points on the new bridge are located after steep curves and lack adequate signage, causing confusion, according to local residents. NHAI Karnataka regional chief V.P. Brahmankar said the authority has issued notices to concessionaire M/s IRB Westcoast Tollway Pvt. Ltd. to expedite work, and that barriers, street lighting, and speed breakers will be installed within a week.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The deaths and accidents on NH 66 stem from a single cause: the delayed rehabilitation of the old Souparnika bridge, closed since November 2024 after being declared unsafe. The slow pace of work and the absence of proper signage at diversion points have made a routine commute lethal, particularly for those unfamiliar with the stretch. NHAI has acknowledged the delay and issued notices to the concessionaire, but residents say enforcement has been absent. The concrete next step is the installation of barriers, lighting, and speed breakers within a week, but the broader reconstruction of the 610-metre bridge remains without a completion deadline.
Source: thehindu.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
