Mangaluru: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI has expressed confidence that the long-pending Kuloor six-lane bridge on National Highway 66 will be completed before the onset of the monsoon this year, provided work is accelerated immediately. Officials have cautioned that any slippage beyond June could delay the project by another year, prolonging traffic congestion and inconvenience for commuters.
The bridge is being constructed across the Phalguni River at Kuloor, between two existing old bridges, and is considered a crucial infrastructure link on the NH-66 corridor. The project has been awarded to Pune-based Shinde Developers. Although the work order was issued in April 2021 and the original completion date was October 2022, the project has faced nearly three years of delay.
Delays due to slow progress and financial issues
According to NHAI officials, the contractor had earlier encountered financial constraints, which significantly slowed the pace of construction. While work has now resumed, progress continues to be slower than desired, prompting repeated instructions from authorities to intensify on-site activity.
Officials noted that timely completion before the monsoon is critical, as heavy rainfall would severely restrict construction activity over the river and push the schedule into the next working season.
Current status of construction
At present, six pillars forming the core structure of the bridge are in place. Pier cap work at the top of these pillars is under progress, with five pier caps already completed. Work on the sixth pier cap is ongoing and is expected to be completed within the next few days.
Once the pier cap work is finished, the next major phase—girder placement—will begin. A total of 60 girders required for the bridge have already been manufactured and are currently stored at the Baikampady yard, ready for launching.
Girder launching yet to begin
Girder launching, a critical and time-consuming phase of the project, is yet to commence. NHAI officials said this stage alone is expected to take up to four months. Contractors have been instructed to carry out the work at an accelerated pace to meet the revised deadline.
Abdulla Javed Azmi, Project Director, NHAI, said strict instructions have been issued to ensure that girder launching and subsequent works proceed without interruption. “Any delay at this stage will have a cascading effect on the entire project timeline,” he said.
Bridge design and service road plans
The new bridge will have a total width of 41 metres. The main carriageway will be 28 metres wide, accommodating six lanes of traffic, significantly easing congestion on this busy stretch of NH-66. In addition, a seven-metre-wide service road will be constructed to facilitate local traffic movement.
Once the new bridge is opened to traffic, the existing old arch bridge will be permanently closed. A new service road and footpath will be developed alongside the old bridge, adjacent to the new structure.
However, officials clarified that work on the service road can commence only after the main carriageway is completed. This is due to the need for pipeline relocation near the old bridge, which cannot be undertaken until the primary structure is ready.
Connectivity and alignment
The six-lane bridge will connect to the highway near the old NMPT lighthouse on the Panambur highway side. On the opposite end, it will link to the existing flyover through a curved alignment, ensuring smoother traffic flow and better integration with the current road network.
The project is expected to play a key role in improving connectivity between the port area, industrial zones and the city, while also reducing bottlenecks caused by the ageing old bridges.
Review by MP and revised deadline
Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Capt Brijesh Chowta recently reviewed the progress of the project with NHAI officials. During the review, he urged the authorities and the contractor to complete the remaining work within four months and ensure that the bridge is opened before the monsoon.
NHAI officials reiterated that the revised expected completion date has been set for May 31, 2026, and that all efforts are being made to adhere to this timeline.
Project timeline at a glance
- Service road width: 14 metres
- Work commencement: April 12, 2021
- Original completion date: October 11, 2022
- Revised expected completion: May 31, 2026
Conclusion
While NHAI remains optimistic about completing the Kuloor six-lane bridge before the monsoon, officials have made it clear that sustained and accelerated execution is essential in the coming months. With girder launching still pending, the next four months will be crucial in determining whether the long-delayed project finally meets its revised deadline and delivers long-awaited relief to commuters.