# Heritage British-era building in Karwar faces NHAI demolition threat 2026-08-08T18:46:04+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The 164-year-old Public Works Department divisional office building in Karwar, Karnataka, built in 1862 and once the district headquarters under British rule, may soon be demolished. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) acquired the property years ago for a highway expansion project, paying over Rs 4 crore in compensation, but later scaled back the plan. The building currently still houses the PWD office, which is set to shift to a new structure nearby. The NHAI project director, K Shivakumar, said no demolition decision has been made yet, and it will depend on future land requirements. Social activist B G Girish has urged authorities to preserve the structure, calling it a rare example of British coastal administrative architecture. A senior PWD official noted the building, built with large stones and lime mortar, remains remarkably strong despite its age. ## Coverage - deccanherald.com Tags: British-era architecture, heritage building, Karnataka, Karwar, NHAI, road expansion Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/heritage-british-era-building-in-karwar-faces-nhai-demolition-threat/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/heritage-british-era-building-in-karwar-faces-nhai-demolition-threat/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.