Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary on Thursday, said notwithstanding serious efforts to open the Ambalpady vehicular underpass by May-end, it might happen only in June first week due to technical issues.

He was speaking to reporters after inspecting the work progress of the VuP at Ambalpady Junction on Kanyakumari-Panvel National Highway 66 in Udupi. He said the VuP work was on for the last one and a half years and has reached its final stages.

Mr. Poojary had on May 1 announced that the VuP could be commissioned before May 20.

He said during the construction phase, the stretch has been witnessing frequent traffic jams, accidents and inconveniences to local residents. When it opens for traffic, the issues would get sorted out. By June first week, at least one of the two carriageways of the VuP would be opened, he said.

The NHAI has been constructing the VuP at Ambalpady Junction since December 2024 at a cost of ₹23.56 crore. The underpass connects Ambalpady, a prominent suburb with Udupi City while the traffic of NH 66 moves above the underpass. The project was expected to get completed in 18 months.