Panaji-Hyderabad national highway project work gathers pace

Pic: The Panaji-Hyderabad 4-lane expressway construction work in progress near Aihole in Bagalkot district. (TOI); The map of Panaji-Hyderabad Expressway that passes through KarnatakaBagalkot: The Panaji-Hyderabad Expressway is primarily the Hyderabad-Panaji Economic Corridor (EC-10), a Bharatmala Pariyojana project focused on improving freight movement, trade, and industry by connecting key cities, with a key section being the Belagavi-Raichur Greenfield Highway (NH-748A) in Karnataka. It is currently under construction as a 4-lane access-controlled road to connect industrial hubs like Panaji, Belagavi, Raichur, and Hyderabad efficiently.The project is being implemented via Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) with significant progress in land acquisition and civil works as of late 2025.The main feature is a new 4-lane, access-controlled highway with paved shoulders, designed for high speed.The highway connects Goa (Panaji) with Karnataka (Belagavi, Raichur) and Telangana (Hyderabad). The project links fishing, pharma (Goa), food grains (Belagavi), agriculture (Raichur), and IT/Pharma (Hyderabad) sectors.The construction of the four-lane National Highway is progressing at a rapid pace. In Bagalkot district, 90% of the land acquisition process for the 102-km stretch has been completed and construction work has already commenced.The Union govt is investing a total of Rs 12,000 crore for the project, which will connect Goa with Karnataka through Raichur, Bagalkot and Belagavi districts. Agricultural land has been acquired for the construction of this new route.In Karnataka, the project is being implemented in four packages, of which the third and fourth packages pertain to Bagalkot district. For the third package, 306.8 hectares of land has been acquired, while 338.9 hectares has been acquired for the fourth package. A total of nine major flyovers will be constructed in the district.The highway will pass via Sirwar, Kavithal and Amadihal in Raichur district, enter Bagalkot district via Nandavdagi, Aminagad, Teggi and Kerur, and proceed towards Ramdurg and Bailhongal in Belagavi district. As the alignment is entirely new, it is expected to spur fresh commercial development, increase trade in towns and villages along the route, and boost roadside hotel and service businesses. The highway will also facilitate transportation of regional produce such as sugarcane, cement, minerals, cotton and fruits.The project is expected to be completed within the next two years. With the central govt having completed the tender process and ensured the release of necessary funds, instructions have been issued to complete the work within the stipulated time frame. However, delays are being reported in certain areas due to land acquisition issues, and there are indications of politically motivated attempts to obstruct the project at some locations. Overall, once completed, the project is expected to significantly contribute to the development of the region. "Initially, there were obstacles to land acquisition for the Panaji–Hyderabad National Highway project. Now, compensation disbursal to farmers has picked up pace and construction work has begun. This project will greatly aid commercial and industrial development," said PC Gaddigoudar, Bagalkot MP.