Agumbe Ghat Hairpin Roads to Be Repaired Within a Week

Agumbe Ghat Hairpin Roads to Be Repaired Within a Week

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Jan 4, 2025: Road users travelling through the battered hairpin curves of Agumbe Ghat can expect relief, with the National Highways Division of the Karnataka Public Works Department set to restore the damaged stretches shortly.

A senior NH-PWD engineer said annual maintenance works have already begun from Hebri towards Agumbe, while damaged portions of Malpe–Tirthahalli NH-169A up to Someshwara have been repaired. The severely damaged stretches along Agumbe Ghat are expected to be fixed within a week.

Agumbe Ghat, a vital link between Udupi and Shivamogga–Chikkamagaluru districts, has witnessed a sharp rise in traffic due to increased tourist movement. The bitumen surface at most of the 14 hairpin curves along the 10-km stretch had worn out, with potholes and craters forming during the prolonged 2025 monsoon, leading to traffic congestion and slow movement of vehicles.

The engineer said tenders called after the monsoon were initially rejected on technical grounds, causing delays. A fresh tender has since been finalised, with the contractor tasked with repairing damaged stretches and maintaining the highway for a year.

Meanwhile, recently installed convex mirrors at all hairpin bends have helped improve visibility at blind curves and ease vehicle movement, the engineer added.