HUBLI: The Union Ministry of Surface Transport has sanctioned a proposal to develop a 22-km stretch on National Highway-218 (Bijapur-Hubli) at a cost of Rs. 7 crore.

Inaugurating the new overbridge near Hebasur constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.98 crore on Tuesday, Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar said work on the project was likely to start in March.

The Minister said the construction of eight bridges on the highway was under progress. Of these, four were nearing completion.

There was a need to improve the connecting roads to the farmlands in villages, he said adding that he would speak to Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in this regard for making budgetary allocations.

MP Pralhad Joshi said that all the important roads connecting Hubli had now been converted as national highways.

Chandrashekhar Eligar, executive engineer of National Highways Authority of India, said the Union Ministry of Surface Transport had declared Hubli-Bijapur Road as National Highway No. 218 in 2000.

He said the highway was being developed in a phased manner and in the first phase, widening of the road had been completed. The development of bridges was taken up in two phases.

While in the first phase, small bridges at Hebasur, Kalwad, Karlawad and Kusugal were being developed, the bridges at Kalakeri, Amargol, Kusugal and Kiresur would be taken up in the second phase, he said.

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