Belagavi, April 26:
Construction activity on the long-awaited Halaga–Macche Bypass has picked up significant pace, raising hopes of early relief for commuters struggling with increasing congestion across Belagavi city.
Officials associated with the project indicate that the bypass, once completed, will divert heavy vehicles away from city roads—one of the major causes of traffic bottlenecks and road safety concerns in recent years.
Stretching over 9 kilometres along the Belagavi–Panaji corridor (NH 748), the project had remained stuck for years despite initial land acquisition beginning over a decade ago. Legal disputes and objections from farmers had halted progress midway, with demands that construction should proceed only after the Zero Point alignment was finalised through court intervention.
With those hurdles now behind, work has resumed at a faster pace. Additional workforce and machinery have been deployed across multiple sections to accelerate progress. Authorities are now optimistic that the project could be completed by the end of the year, if not earlier.
Currently, a portion of the bypass—around 1.2 kilometres—is already operational, offering a glimpse of the relief it is expected to bring. Key infrastructure components such as three underpasses have also been completed, while construction continues simultaneously across remaining stretches.
Efforts are now focused on advancing as much work as possible before the monsoon season sets in, which could otherwise slow down construction.
Once fully functional, the Halaga–Macche Bypass is expected to streamline traffic flow, reduce pressure on internal city roads, and improve the overall movement of goods and passenger vehicles passing through Belagavi.
