The widening of National Highway 169, which links Mangaluru with Solapur, has been delayed for several years by land acquisition and forest clearance issues. The upgrade covers a 45 kilometre stretch between Mangaluru and Karkala that was proposed after a feasibility study began in 2014 and work commenced more than five years ago. The project carries a cost of Rs 11.37 billion (Rs 11,370 mn) and aims to convert the route from Bikarnakatte to Sanoor via Moodbidri into four lanes to improve regional connectivity. The plan includes bypasses at Gurupura and Moodbidri and several structures intended to ease congestion and support logistics and pilgrim access. The scope comprises eight vehicular underpasses, four vehicular overpasses, six minor bridges and a major bridge across the Gurupura river. The upgrade is expected to boost economic activity and improve access to educational institutions and tourist destinations along the corridor. Authorities report that compensation disputes are the primary impediment. Work is stalled for two and a half kilometres at Padavu village near Polali and Alangar and an 830 metre stretch at Kanthavara in Karkala is awaiting forest clearance, while the Vamanjoor to Bikarnakatte section also faces land acquisition problems. Local campaigners have estimated that NHAI must pay Rs 2.86 bn in compensation and pointed to contested orders from a special land acquisition officer and subsequent litigation that has been pending in district court for about two years. Officials say work between Vamanjoor and Baiturli is advancing and is expected to be finished ahead of the monsoon, with retaining walls and realignment works underway near key temples. The implementation team has completed dense bituminous macadam work for 32.65 kilometres of the 45 kilometre corridor and the contractor delay led to the descoping of a two and a half kilometre section at Padavu to maintain the project timeline. Locals have urged faster completion to reduce the risk of landslides from recent hill cutting and to protect shopkeepers and commuters, while authorities have targeted completion of ongoing works by June.