Bhatkal: The city's historic landmark, Shamsuddin Circle is all set to lose its charm, owning to the expansion of National Highway, which is expected to begin after monsoon.

According to the new blueprint released by National Highway Authority of India, the 45 metre circumference Shamsuddin Circle will give way for a flyover, a subway and service road. The new blueprint has laid to rest all speculations among people, who were under the belief that the authority would take away more land for the construction of these amenities.

People were also told that the authorities would take away all commercial and residential buildings that are in the circumference of 85 metres. However, the new blueprint, says all these amenities would be constructed in the present 45 metre strech, Informed In-charge Special Land Acqusition Officer, M N Manjunath.

Officials informed that at present they would go ahead with the national highway expansion."We are not considering to acquire more land for these work at present,"said a senior officer. Recently members of more than 17 organisations had staged a protest against land acquisition for the works.

They feared that lives of hundreds of people would be put in limbo, if the officials acquire more land.