National Highway 50 (India)

National Highway 50
Route information
Length:	544 km (338 mi)
Major junctions
From:	Homanabad
To:	Lakshraisagara
Location
States:	Karnataka: 544 km (338 mi)
Primary destinations:	Gulbarga - Jevargi - Bijapur - Hospet
Highway system
Indian road network National Expressways State ← NH 65 NH 48 →

National Highway 50 (NH 50) is a National Highway in India that runs from Homanabad to Lakshraisagara in Karnataka. The total length of NH 50 is 544 km (338 mi).

NH 50 passes through the towns of Bijapur, Basavana Bagewadi, Hosapete and Shivamogga. It passes through all geographical regions of Karnataka state, including Bayaluseemae, Malenadu and Karavali.

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Widening projects

Main article: National Highways Development Project

Toll Plaza on the Hungund-Hospet stretch.

Though the road is a national highway, it is narrow along many stretches, which causes frequent mishaps. In particular, the stretch between Chitradurga and Hospet is extremely bad and with heavy truck traffic. Driving this stretch in a car, particularly at night, is not advisable due to bad road conditions. It is currently being upgraded to 4 lanes. The work is complete from Bijapur to Hospet.

At the other end of the highway, a proposal to widen the 50 km (31 mi) Mangalore-Shimoga stretch passing through Moodabidri, Karkala, Sringeri, Koppa and Thirthahalli has been delayed, as the forest department has raised objections to road widening in the ghat and forest areas. NHAI sent a proposal to the Union government for widening the stretch into a four-lane, 60-meter wide grade separated highway. According to the proposal the road would be widened to four lanes between Mangalore and Moodbidri, and the stretch between Moodbidri and Karkala would be two lanes, as it receives less traffic. As the forest department does not allow the widening of the roads going through the Western Ghats, it is expected that a tunnel will be built, similar to the NH-48 tunnel to the Shiradi Ghat that has been proposed by Japanese consultants. A tunnel would reduce travel time by 3 hours, reduce fuel usage, and increase the productivity of the industries around. It will also provide an alternative route for the trucks transporting materials to the seaport and air-cargo facility at Mangalore.

The Solapur-Bijapur-Hungund-Hospet-Chitradurga stretch is being upgraded to a four-lane, 60-meter wide grade-separated highway. The widening work in this stretch is in different stages of completion. The Chitradurga-Shimoga-Mangalore section has been identified for a two-lane national highway standard upgrade.

See also

• List of National Highways in India (by Highway Number)