Includes Navalgund & Nargund Bypasses; DPR Tender Issued
NHAI has begun preparations to widen the Hubballi–Vijayapura highway to four lanes, Deccan Herald reported. Once completed, the current two-lane NH-52 will allow uninterrupted travel, reducing delays caused by slow-moving traffic on this heavily used corridor.
Key Route and Districts Covered
- Total stretch length: 199 km
- Passes through Dharwad, Gadag, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura districts
- Connects towns including Navalgund, Nargund, Konnur, Kulageri, Kerur, Gaddankeri, Bilgi, and Kolhar
- Key route for both passenger and commercial vehicles
- Links North Karnataka with South Maharashtra
- Part of the 2,317-km NH-52 north–south corridor
- NH-52 runs from Ankola (Karnataka) to Sangrur (Punjab)
- Traverses Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab
Rising Traffic and Safety Concerns
Traffic on NH-52 has surged significantly post-Covid-19, prompting calls for improved infrastructure. The highway runs through the centres of Navalgund and Nargund, both taluk headquarters, where narrow roads have become bottlenecks. Large events and protests often caused hours-long traffic jams. The two-lane stretch has also witnessed numerous accidents, leading to loss of lives, intensifying demands for a four-lane upgrade.
DPR Preparation and Bypass Plans
NHAI has floated a tender to prepare the DPR for the 199-km stretch to ease congestion and improve connectivity. Once an agency is appointed, the DPR will cover the four-lane expansion and the construction of bypasses, including Navalgund. The project will be executed under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Local Demands and Official Approvals
Former minister Shankar Patil Munenkoppa said traffic rose 30% post-pandemic, making the road upgrade a long-pending demand. He said, “Bypasses for both Navalgund and Nargund have been approved by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. But there were some alignment changes sought for the Navalgund bypass, as it was not connecting to Annigeri Road.
He further added, “We demanded to make the bypass on the right side of the Navalgund town, which will prevent flood-like situations in the town during Bennehalla flash floods and also connect Annigeri Road properly. Hence, it has been included in the DPR preparation.”