Mangaluru: Kuloor six-lane bridge on NH-66 likely to be completed before monsoon

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 12, 2026: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has expressed confidence that the long-pending construction of the Kuloor six-lane bridge on National Highway 66 will be completed before the onset of the monsoon this year. However, officials stressed that the pace of work must be accelerated immediately, warning that any delay beyond June could push the project back by another year.

The bridge is being built across the Phalguni River at Kuloor, between two existing old bridges. The project has been awarded to Pune-based Shinde Developers. While the work order was issued in April 2021 and the bridge was originally slated for completion by October 2022, the project has been delayed by nearly three years.

According to officials, the contractor, which had earlier faced financial constraints, has resumed work, though progress continues to be slow.

Currently, six pillars form part of the bridge structure. Pier cap work at the top of these pillars is underway, with five pier caps already completed. Work on the sixth pier cap is in progress and is expected to be completed in the coming days.

Once the pier caps are completed, girder placement will begin. A total of 60 girders have already been manufactured and are stored at the Baikampady yard.

Bridge and service road details

The bridge will have a total width of 41 metres. The main carriageway will be 28 metres wide, accommodating six lanes of traffic. In addition, a seven-metre-wide service road will be constructed.

After the new bridge is opened to traffic, the existing old arch bridge will be permanently closed. A new service road and footpath will be constructed alongside the old bridge, adjacent to the new structure. However, officials said work on the service road can begin only after the main carriageway is completed, as pipeline relocation near the old bridge is required.

Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta recently reviewed the project with NHAI officials and urged them to complete the remaining work within four months. Officials have also instructed the contractor to ensure completion before the monsoon season.

Project timeline

Service road width: 14 metres

Work commencement: April 12, 2021

Original completion date: October 11, 2022

Revised expected completion: May 31, 2026

Connectivity

The new six-lane bridge will connect to the highway near the old NMPT lighthouse on the Panambur highway side. On the opposite end, it will connect to the existing flyover through a curved alignment.

Girder launching pending

Girder launching work is yet to commence and is expected to take up to four months. Contractors have been directed to carry out the work at an accelerated pace, said Abdulla Javed Azmi, Project Director, NHAI.