Udupi, September 2, 2025: The Udupi Traffic Police on September 1, 2025, registered a case against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), its contractor, and a truck driver for their alleged negligence leading to the death of a 33-year-old motorcyclist on the service road alongside the Kochi-Panvel National Highway 66 (NH 66). The incident highlights ongoing concerns over the poor maintenance of service roads amid construction activities.

Pradeep Kumar, a resident of Udupi, was riding his motorcycle from Karavali Junction towards Kinnimulky when he encountered a pothole at Ambalpady Junction, where NHAI is constructing a vehicular overpass. He lost control, fell on the road, and was fatally crushed under the wheels of a 16-wheel truck. The tragic moment was captured on CCTV footage, which has been released by the Udupi district police to aid investigations.

The stretch of NH 66 between Kinnimulky and Karavali Junction has been closed to facilitate the overpass construction, forcing motorists to use the adjacent service roads. However, these service roads on either side of Ambalpady Junction are in a deplorable condition, riddled with potholes and craters, due to the alleged apathy of NHAI and its contractor.

The complaint was filed by Sudhir Naik from Shivapura in Karkala taluk, who held NHAI, contractor Karla Constructions, and truck driver Lav Kumar Patil responsible for the accident. Naik alleged that NHAI and the contractor failed to maintain the service roads in a motorable state during the construction period, while the driver operated the vehicle rashly and negligently.

Police have invoked sections for rash and negligent driving as well as causing death by negligence against the accused parties. The case underscores the risks faced by commuters on under-maintained infrastructure, especially in areas undergoing major highway projects.

The vehicular overpass at Ambalpady is part of NHAI’s broader efforts to improve connectivity on NH 66, but locals have repeatedly raised complaints about the hazardous conditions of diversion routes. Authorities are yet to respond to the FIR, and investigations are ongoing.