Hubballi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited tenders for appointing a consultancy firm to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed four-laning of a 199-km stretch of National Highway-52 between Hubballi and Vijayapura in Karnataka.

The project covers the section from Km 74.135 to Km 264.758 and includes the construction of a bypass at Navalgund. The tender, floated under international competitive bidding, was published on March 26, 2026, with proposals to be submitted by April 24, 2026.

The highway stretch passes through key districts—Dharwad, Gadag, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura—and connects major towns such as Navalgund, Nargund, Konnur, Kulageri, Kerur, Gaddankeri, Bilgi, and Kolhar. The route is a critical corridor for passenger and freight movement, linking North Karnataka with parts of South Maharashtra.

Part of the larger NH-52 corridor, which spans over 2,300 km from Ankola in Karnataka to Sangrur in Punjab, the stretch has witnessed a sharp rise in traffic in recent years. Officials indicate that traffic volumes have increased significantly post the Covid-19 pandemic, intensifying the need for capacity augmentation.

Currently, the two-lane configuration has become a major bottleneck, particularly in towns like Navalgund and Nargund, where congestion often leads to long traffic snarls during peak periods, public gatherings, and protests. The lack of bypasses has further compounded delays and safety concerns.

According to former Karnataka minister Shankar Patil Munenkoppa, traffic on the corridor has risen by nearly 30% after the pandemic, while accident risks have also increased due to the narrow carriageway.

“Bypasses for both Navalgund and Nargund have been approved by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Alignment changes were sought for the Navalgund bypass to ensure better connectivity to Annigeri Road and to avoid flood-like situations during Bennehalla flash floods,” he said.

The proposed DPR will incorporate these alignment modifications and assess the feasibility of expanding the highway to four lanes, along with necessary bypass infrastructure.

Once the DPR is finalised, the project will be taken up for execution by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The consultancy assignment is expected to be completed within 12 months. DeshBharat