The Central Government has approved a ₹414.16-crore infrastructure project to transform National Highway 66 in Mangaluru, Karnataka, with construction of an elevated flyover and service roads to enhance port corridor connectivity.
Project Details
Union Minister Brijesh Chowta announced the approval for a 4.45-kilometer six-lane elevated flyover from Baikampady to KIOCL Junction, designed to alleviate traffic congestion in urban areas. The six-lane flyover will be part of the Mumbai–Kanyakumari 4/6-lane national highway corridor.
Strategic Significance
The project enhances connectivity to New Mangalore Port, one of India’s major ports on the western coast, by improving port access and facilitating smoother movement of goods and passengers. NH-66 is a critical artery running roughly north-south along India’s western coast, parallel to the Western Ghats, covering 1,640 kilometers.
Broader Road Development
The NH-66 corridor is undergoing significant upgrades, with the complete 645-kilometer stretch from Thalappady at the Karnataka border to Karode at the Tamil Nadu border being widened to six lanes under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. Major sections including the Thalappady–Chengala stretch and the Kozhikode Bypass were inaugurated in March 2026, significantly easing coastal connectivity.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has also proposed a greenfield access-controlled expressway corridor connecting port cities of Mangaluru-Karwar-Panaji as part of the Indian National Expressway Network.
