Bhatkal: Owing to the grave negligence of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), hundreds of precious lives have already been lost. Shockingly, within the last month, three more people have died in road accidents along a 600-meter stretch, raising serious questions over the department’s faulty planning.

When the four-lane highway project was first proposed, experts and public representatives had strongly recommended a bypass route through the outskirts of the town to ease traffic congestion and minimize the risk of accidents. A parallel bypass road plan was also drawn up, connecting Shamsuddin Circle to Shirali via Sarpankatte. However, the project was stalled—and remains unresolved today—due to alleged vested interests and the greed of a few influential individuals.

Had the b

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