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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is targeting the opening of one carriageway of the long-delayed Kulur bridge in Mangaluru by the end of November, even as the six-lane structure over the Gurupura (Phalguni) river continues to face construction delays. The new bridge, being built between the two existing structures on NH 66, will eventually replace the 1952-era arch bridge, which is to be permanently closed to traffic once the new carriageway becomes operational.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is targeting the opening of one carriageway of the delayed Kulur bridge in Mangaluru by the end of November, as construction of the six-lane structure over the Gurupura river continues to lag behind earlier timelines. The bridge, located on National Highway 66 around seven kilometres north of the Mangaluru city centre, is being built between the two existing structures at the site: a 1952-era bowstring arch bridge used for southbound traffic and a reinforced concrete girder bridge carrying northbound movement.
According to NHAI officials, girder launching work on the new bridge has been pending, with a total of 60 girders already fabricated and stored at the Baikampady yard awaiting installation. Officials had earlier indicated that the remaining work, including the completion of pier caps atop the bridge's piers, was expected to take several months, with contractors instructed to accelerate the pace of construction. Of the total pier caps required, most have been completed, with only a small number of locations still pending as of the most recent review.
The new bridge has been designed with a total width of 41 metres, comprising a 28-metre-wide main carriageway accommodating six lanes of traffic, along with a separate service road running alongside. Once the main carriageway becomes operational, vehicular movement on the existing 1952 arch bridge is expected to be restricted, with the structure to be permanently closed to traffic. A new service road and footpath are also planned alongside the old bridge, though construction of the service road has been deferred until after completion of the main carriageway, pending relocation of pipelines running along the older structure.
The Kulur bridge project has faced repeated delays over the years, prompting local political representatives, including Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, to hold discussions with NHAI officials and press for expedited completion. Officials have separately indicated to both the authorities and the contractor that the remaining works must be finished before the onset of the monsoon season, given the disruption heavy rainfall typically causes to construction activity in the coastal region.
The Kulur stretch forms part of a broader set of infrastructure upgrades along NH 66 in and around Mangaluru, a corridor that has seen several bridge and flyover projects, including works at Pumpwell, Thokkottu and Gurupura, face extended delays in the past due to a combination of funding constraints, contractor issues and land-related hurdles. With the NHAI now targeting a partial opening by November-end, commuters travelling along the Mangaluru-Udupi route are expected to see some relief on the long-pending crossing, even as full completion of the bridge, including the service road and pedestrian pathways, remains contingent on further progress in the months ahead.
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