Hundreds of road users frustrated by poor road conditions at Agumbe Ghat’s hairpin curves can relax. The National Highways Division of Karnataka’s Public Works Department (NH-PWD) will soon repair the damaged highway stretches. A senior NH-PWD engineer told The Hindu on January 3, 2026: “Annual maintenance works have already started from Hebri towards Agumbe while affected stretches of Malpe-Tirthahalli NH 169A till about Someshwara have been fixed.” He added that the damaged parts of Agumbe Ghat would be repaired in about a week. Agumbe Ghat is a key route connecting Udupi with Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts. Heavy traffic, especially from private cars of tourists visiting sites like Sringeri and Horanadu, has increased over the years. The bitumen surface has worn out along most of the 14 hairpin curves on the roughly 10 km stretch of the ghat. The 2025 monsoon caused many potholes and craters. These damages made driving difficult and slowed down traffic, causing jams. Although tenders for repair work were called soon after the rains, they were rejected on technical grounds and fresh tenders took time to finalize. The selected contractor will not only fix the roads but also maintain the highway for one year. Meanwhile, the recently installed convex mirrors at all hairpin bends have improved safety. The engineer said drivers coming down from Agumbe can now see oncoming vehicles from Someshwara early and give way. These mirrors have helped reduce risks at the blind curves to some extent.