27 National Highway projects underway in Karnataka with outlay of Rs 31,749 crore
Udupi: As many as 27 National Highway (NH) projects are currently in progress across Karnataka, with a total sanctioned outlay of Rs 31,749 crore. This was revealed by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in a written reply to Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary in the Lok Sabha, as reported by The New Indian Express on Tuesday.
Poojary had sought detailed information regarding the status of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects in Karnataka, including updates on project timelines, sanctioned budgets, current progress, and expenditure incurred.
In response, the ministry stated that feasibility studies and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) form the basis for investment decisions, which are aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
According to the ministry’s data, the 27 ongoing NHAI projects in Karnataka span a combined length of 1,151 km, of which 537 km have been completed. The total expenditure incurred so far amounts to Rs 14,455 crore.
Among the prominent initiatives, six-laning work on the Nelamangala-Tumakuru section (NH 48), sanctioned at Rs 2,032 crore has seen just 10.3 km completed out of 44.73 km.
Another delayed project is the construction of a six-lane bridge across the Phalguni River near Kulur on NH-66 in Mangaluru. While Rs 27 crore has already been spent on foundational works, overall progress remains limited. The bridge's revised completion deadline is now set for December 31, 2025.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
