I do feel that one more connection from KR to interior Karnataka is definitely required. But at least at a first glance, looks like UBL-Ankola project will have problems with environmental clearance as the area is very heavily forested and is a bio-diversity hot-spot and also the Western Ghats are much wider here. Compared to this, the Kolhapur-KR connection seems to be much easier with far less bio-diversity hot-spots than the UBL-Ankola region, and a much more easier terrain to work with.