Bengaluru-Mangaluru NH 75 Travel Gets Easier As Nellyadi Flyover With Underpasses Partially Opens

Travel on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru National Highway 75 (NH 75) has become easier after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) partially opened the long-awaited 1.18 km Nellyadi flyover with underpasses in Dakshina Kannada district. The opening of one carriageway of the 1.18-km flyover on May 10 has eased congestion in Nellyadi town, where commuters had been struggling with narrow and damaged service roads for nearly four years due to ongoing highway construction work.

With through traffic now shifted to the newly opened flyover section and connected underpasses, vehicle movement along the stretch has improved significantly. The development is expected to provide immediate relief to daily commuters, heavy vehicle operators, and travellers using the crucial highway corridor connecting Bengaluru with coastal Karnataka.

The Nellyadi structure is part of the larger B.C. Road-Periyashanthi four-laning project on NH 75. The flyover includes three spans, each measuring 15 metres in width, along with two vehicular underpasses designed to improve local connectivity while ensuring uninterrupted highway traffic flow through the town.

NHAI Mangaluru Project Implementation Unit Director Abulla Javed Azmi said the second carriageway of the flyover is likely to be opened before the onset of the monsoon season. Once both carriageways become operational, traffic congestion on one of Karnataka's busiest national highways is expected to reduce further.

The project had earlier faced delays and resistance from local traders and residents, who argued that the elevated structure acted like a "wall" through the town and negatively affected businesses in Nellyadi. During the prolonged construction period, vehicles were diverted through temporary service roads, which gradually deteriorated due to continuous movement of heavy vehicles.

The damaged roads, potholes, and bottlenecks had become a major concern for commuters travelling between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. NHAI officials said the authority now plans to rebuild and widen both service roads to six metres each to improve movement for local traffic.

The broader B.C. Road-Adda Hole four-laning project on NH 75 spans 63 km and was originally launched in 2017. NHAI had initially awarded the contract to M/s Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for ₹821 crore. However, after design changes and additional project requirements, the authority later split the highway expansion into two engineering, procurement and construction packages in 2021.

The 15.13-km Adda Hole-Periyashanthi stretch near Dharmasthala Cross was awarded to M/s S M Autade Pvt. Ltd. for ₹400 crore, while the larger 48.48-km Periyashanthi-B.C. Road stretch went to M/s KNR Constructions for ₹1,100 crore.

Although four-laning work is still pending in a few stretches, commuters say overall travel time between Bengaluru and Mangaluru has already reduced considerably due to completed portions of the project. Members of the commuter-led online initiative #saveNH75 described the opening of the Nellyadi flyover as a major milestone after years of delays and traffic disruptions along the highway corridor.