Udupi: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary has highlighted the urgent need for a greenfield expressway along the Karnataka coast, citing severe congestion on the existing Kanniyakumari–Panvel National Highway 66. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha on December 18, the MP said the four-lane NH 66 is no longer able to handle the rapidly increasing volume of traffic in coastal Karnataka.

Speaking under Rule 377 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Poojary proposed the construction of an expressway between Talapady on the Kerala–Karnataka border in Dakshina Kannada district and Karwar in Uttara Kannada district. He suggested that the proposed expressway could run parallel to the Mangaluru–Mumbai railway line, which would minimise land acquisition challenges while offering an efficient high-speed corridor along the coast.

NH 66 unable to handle rising traffic

Mr. Poojary told the House that traffic congestion on NH 66 has been steadily increasing despite the highway being widened to four lanes in most stretches along the Karnataka coast. The national highway, which serves as a crucial link for passenger and freight movement between Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, has reached saturation levels in several locations.

He pointed out that the growing traffic load has also resulted in a rise in road accidents and fatalities on NH 66. According to the MP, the current infrastructure is inadequate to safely manage both local traffic and long-distance through-traffic, particularly heavy commercial vehicles.

“A four-lane highway is no longer sufficient for the coastal belt, which has witnessed rapid growth in population, tourism, industry and freight movement,” Mr. Poojary said while making a strong case for a dedicated expressway.

Proposed expressway route and benefits

The MP proposed that the greenfield expressway should run from Talapady to Karwar, broadly aligning with the Mangaluru–Mumbai railway corridor. He said such an alignment would allow seamless long-distance travel while reducing interference with local traffic and urban settlements.

According to Mr. Poojary, the expressway would significantly reduce the burden on NH 66 by diverting fast-moving and long-haul traffic. This, in turn, would improve safety and travel time for commuters using the existing highway for short-distance and local travel.

He added that an expressway would also ensure uninterrupted movement for emergency services and logistics vehicles, which often get stuck in bottlenecks on NH 66 due to intersections, local traffic and ongoing road works.

Boost to tourism and coastal economy

Highlighting the broader economic impact, Mr. Poojary said the proposed expressway has the potential to transform the coastal economy. Improved connectivity would boost tourism in the interior regions of coastal Karnataka, which currently remain underexplored due to poor road access.

He stated that faster and safer road connectivity could usher in a new phase of economic development from Mangaluru to Goa, benefiting sectors such as hospitality, fisheries, port-led industries and small businesses.

The MP also noted that coastal Karnataka plays a key role in interstate trade, and an expressway would strengthen economic ties between Kerala, Karnataka and Goa.

Status of NH 66 widening in Karnataka

NH 66 along the Karnataka coast has been widened to four lanes under two major project packages. The first package covers the Talapady–Kundapura stretch of about 90 km, excluding the Nanthoor–Surathkal section. Toll collection on this stretch began in 2016.

The second package covers the Kundapura–Goa border stretch of around 187 km, where toll collection commenced in 2023. Of this, approximately 173 km has been widened to four lanes, while work is still pending on certain stretches in Bhatkal, Honnavar and Kumta.

Despite these upgrades, traffic congestion continues to be a major concern, particularly near towns, junctions and toll plazas.

Complementing Kerala’s six-lane NH 66

Mr. Poojary pointed out that six-laning of NH 66 between Talapady and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is nearing completion. He said the proposed greenfield expressway in Karnataka could complement Kerala’s six-lane highway, enabling seamless high-speed travel from Thiruvananthapuram up to the Goa border.

Such integrated planning, he argued, would ensure continuity in highway standards across States and prevent congestion from simply shifting to Karnataka’s stretch of NH 66.

Conclusion

By urging the Central Government to consider a greenfield expressway along the Karnataka coast, MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has drawn attention to the pressing infrastructure challenges facing NH 66. With traffic volumes continuing to rise, the proposed Talapady–Karwar expressway could offer a long-term solution by easing congestion, improving road safety and driving economic growth across coastal Karnataka. The demand is now expected to be examined by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.