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Dream Projects of Belagavi – update

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Updated: September 2023

The people of Belagavi are widely recognized for their remarkable tolerance towards the indifferent attitude of political leaders. Unfortunately, this apathy towards the city’s development has transformed Belagavi into nothing more than a sprawling village over the years. Despite the claims of it being a thriving metropolis, the lack of essential infrastructure renders such rhetoric hollow. If the politicians’ notion of progress is limited to demolishing settlements and widening roads, then we are still stuck in a primitive stage. As citizens of this beautiful and evolving city, shouldn’t we expect certain amenities that can further propel its development?

Numerous projects have been discussed, foundation stones have been laid, and credit has been taken, but the desired outcomes are yet to be seen. Let’s examine the status of some of these projects over the years and identify the requirements for the upcoming years. Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

Ring Road: 

In 2006 a Jaipur-based company was awarded the contract but even before the work could commence the urban development ministry canceled the contract and gave it to State Road Development Corporation and cases were filed. The Rs.30 crore project is now estimated to go over Rs.300 crores and one more plan suggested it to cross Rs.1000 crores.
Land acquisition has to be done and the same has been hampered as the farmers are opposing the same. NO land has been acquired in its entirety to start the project.

https://allaboutbelgaum.com/news/land-acquisition-for-belagavi-ring-road-notification/
https://allaboutbelgaum.com/news/gr-infraprojects-wins-bid-for-belagavi-ring-road-package-1-a-and-belagavi-hungund-raichur-section/

Current status:  Land acquisition has to commence

Bus stand development: 

The development of the Central bus stand was planned in 2008 and then in 2009 a Draft proposal was made and tenders were called in but nothing happened later. The estimated Project Cost then was Rs. 25.70 crores and was to be built on Lease-cum-Development Format Design-Build-Operate-Transfer (DBOT) basis.

According to the plan the new bus stand would have 41 bus bays, bus circulation and parking areas, auto-rickshaw lane, taxi parking lane, basement parking for private vehicles, passenger entry/ exit, Terminal building consisting of passenger circulation and waiting areas, ticket/ reservation counters, cloak room, first-aid room, waiting rooms, passenger amenities like drinking water, toilets, yatri nivas etc., restaurant, shops, kiosks and administrative offices, crew restrooms, parcel office and other facilities.

Current status:  CBT is ready. City Bus terminus 80% work is over

Belagavi- Kittur – Dharwad Rail line

Land acquisition has begun on a small note in Dharwad district and small amount of survey has been completed in Belagavi Dist.

Vande Bharat Train

New Integrated Deputy Commissioner’s Office

The proposed project involves utilizing a portion of the expansive nine-acre Deputy Commissioner’s premises to build the new office, covering an impressive two acres. This strategic allocation will ensure ample space for essential amenities such as parking, a beautifully landscaped garden, and other necessary infrastructure.

ELEVATED CORRIDOR

– from NH near Shankam up to Lingraj College in Phase 1.
Nothing has begun as of now with this regard except the statements made

Cricket stadium: 

The Karnataka Cricket Association international stadium at Kanbargi was envisaged and even work began in April 2009. But after the initial ground leveling nothing is happening.

Current status: Ready and being utilized

Fly over / under pass near railway crossings: For years, Belagavi has suffered patiently waiting at railway gates and wasted lakhs of productive man hours just practicing being cool in times of urgency.

In 2009 the state government had agreed to bear a part of the cost of the over bridge near Kapileshwar gate and old Dharwad road. Tender process for the Rs.100 crore sanctioned by the state govt. was also sanctioned.

But not a stone has moved here. The railway authorities later said that soil there is not feasible and an underpass would be better and ordered for another proposal which is yet to be made. The local residents also opposed the over bridge. On the Dharwad road front nothing really moved.

On the question of the heavy traffic congestion at First gate, Second gate, NO plans actually drawn yet.

Current status: Kapileshwar ROB, Gogte Circle, Old PB Road RoB complete. Third gate One section is done. Second section has to be redesigned.

Subways: 

The two subways were planned are at DC office to the court and another one at fish market to Anthony school. Rs.75 lakhs each for the subway were allocated. Year of plan: 2010

Pedestrian underpass at court is operational but is not used 
Current status: Fish Market plan dropped


Indoor Stadium:

 On the empty land of the corporation in Malmaruti an indoor stadium was to be built.

Rs.5 crore was the cost estimated for the indoor stadium. Year of plan: 2010
Current status:  Completed


Road widening
from Fish Market to Udyambag: Khanapur road from Govaves to 3rd gate is planned to widened to 120 feet. The PWD has surveyed the area and made markings on the buildings on the road. 9 crores budget allocated. The road from Fish market (near old age home) till Zad Shahapur comes under the PWD as a part of the NH 4A . The initial plan was to widen the road till Udyambag at least. But now PWD plans only widening the 2 km stretch until 3 rd gate from Basveshwar circle. Year of plan: 2009

Current status: Except for the small stretch near Old Age Home in Camp road is almost done


FM station:

 A city with more than 5 lakhs population still does not have a FM radio station. Since 2008 we are waiting for a FM station. Under Phase III of the FM radio licenses the city can have upto 4 stations. Still the frequency auction has not yet taken place.

KLE has opened the Community FM radio 90.4 Venudhwani 
PVT FM station bidding
has to commence

Heritage Park at Vaccine Depot: 

The Vaccine depot which has a long history to it came into the lime light when there were rumors that it will be good site for building the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in August 2007. Environmentalists and nature lovers came together and raised voice that the rich heritage and the flora and fauna should be saved and preserved.

Then in 2008 it was decided that a heritage park would be built in the Vaccine Depot premises. As of today the first designs for the park are ready are put forth discussions. Belagavi architect Randhir Chowgule has designed the park which will also be home to a wide variety of birds, butterflies with plenty fruit bearing trees along with a glass house, walking and cycling tracks, an amphitheater, hanging bridges, art gallery, food courts & Sculptures would be installed at various points in the park.

Current status: Design of Heritage park ready now waiting for approval. At this rate time for completion would be another 12-24 months.
NOTHING happening as all works have been stopped in Vaccine Depot. Also the death of Art Director Nitin Desai who was completing various projects have come to a halt.

Airport: 

Star Air currently operates direct flights from Belagavi to Ahmedabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Mumbai, Surat, Tirupati, and Nagpur. 
Indigo to Delhi, Hyderabad and Pune (announced)
The Sambra airport dates back to 1942, when it was under the Patwardhan Sarkar of Sangli. The Patwardhan Sarkar gave permission for establishing the air base at Sambra to the Royal Air Force (RAF) in late 1942.

FTO- Flying Training Organisation

Redbird Aviation Flying Pvt. Ltd commenced its Flying Training Organisation (FTO) is operational the second FTO by M/S Samvardhane Technologies Pvt. Ltd is ready and could be operational in October 2023


Multi level Car Parking:
 

Right from 2007 the Bapat Galli Car parking space was talked to be converted into a multi level car parking. Nothing has moved on this. Except for some tours by the corporators. Even a dream of a Vertipark (multi level parking) was shown but nothing happened on the ground. Not even an inch has moved around the car parking which now cant even hold 60 cars where as the number of cars have tripled since 2007 in the city. Parking has become a major problem and no one is looking at this a major problem and trying to resolve it.

Current status: Bhumi poja done on 11/09/2023 which can accommodate 120 cars work to be completed by Sep 2025

24 x 7 Water Supply 
The ambitious plan has been implemented in 10 wards and was scheduled to be expanded to all 58 wards under World bank funds.
Work on changing pipes is under progress in various areas

Underground Electric cabling
Underground Electric cabling has been completed in many areas. Activated in a few areas as well. 



Autos by meters: 
This is a dream which each Belgaumite is born with since ages. The pre paid auto at railway station has not picked up. The local RTO has never shown interest in meeting the Auto owners and fixing the FARES. When the same is done in Bangalore why dont the authorities fix the FARES here. It has been decades now since the fare were fixed.

Status: Not implemented, only on paper 
What also needs to be looked is at the ever growing city, its sewage and garbage problem. The city has now grown beyond compare but even still we have only one water treatment plant for the entire city with some small filtration units on local wells.

 All this leads us to keep asking the question ‘WHY’? Why not… Is it too much to expect from a government that flourishes on taxpayers’ money? If we have the audacity of hope to dream big, we must also have the guile to demand highways for our dreams.

23 thoughts on “Dream Projects of Belagavi – update”

  1. It is very sad state of affairs . I am not aware of any group of civil activists , which can take up these issues . Quality of roads is getting worse as the years pass by . I do hope group of like minded people come forward and ask the Govt for accounting various taxes collected from public and it’s expenses .

    Reply
  2. There is no mention of up scaling of 24X7 water supply to entire Belgaum city which has already been approved for about Rs 450 Crores ( pl verify the amount). The same May be incorporated under Dream projects of Belgaum city with full details for information of general public.

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  3. I am from Shaikh college of Engineering as we are doing outer ring road project for that purpose we wanted Belgaum development plan to get that wat should we do.,…????

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  4. End of the day nothing will happen in improving the basic infrastructure of this city of Belgaum. The only option is stop sending tax Revenue to Bangalore. On the contrary look at Bangalore how disgusting it has become.

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  5. belgaum is nothing but a big village with some facilities like schools, colleges, hospitals, shops and all. and zero road sense shown by people

    so people need to change their attitude, then everything would change.

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  6. The problem is with corruption half knowledge people who will only look at text book cases they will never think out of the box like a fly over in Delhi which was earmarked 250cores bought down to 150 crore they dont want bcoz their kick back amount will come down .there are few elite buggars called as duster who think they earned more money in corruption and they are the right visionary’s

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  7. Our politicians are unable to create a ruckus as compared to the North Indian counterparts.Or politicians lack a dashing and creating an impact attitude. As regards the efficiency ,competency they are excellent.

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  8. If all of us pay our dues like taxes to the government, then we can hold them accountable. Without that there will be very slow progress.

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  9. I must change first then we will change then our BELGAUM will change .
    Pointing others is easy but pointing our self is difficult .
    Let us come together & first change our thinking & give our children a BEAUTIFUL BELGAUM.

    Reply
  10. “In the Name of RELIGION & BORDER DISPUTE”
    Until this policy is followed in Political game, We all will never C our city developed.
    /// Remember This\\\

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  11. GOVARDHANA GIRI — A SMART TOWN IN A SMART CITY @ BELAGAVI

    A THEME BASED TOWNSHIP – 200 ACRES WITH A DEDICATED TEMPLE COMPLEX, SHOPPING MALL, INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, SCHOOL, HOSPITAL MODERN AMENITIES,
    ALL THAT YOU CAN ASK FOR– RESIDENTIAL PLOTS, VILLAS, ASSISTED HOMES, AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS, COMMERCIAL PLOTS, HIGH END AMENITIES INCLUSIVE OF A WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, RAIN WATER HARVESTING, ECO FRIENDLY SOLAR POWERED STREET LIGHTS AND SECURITY SYSTEM,

    Reply
  12. we do not need expanding the all roads for better traffic, we need traffic policeman to regular duty on major 15 circles. 1st appoint more policeman to handle the better traffic & remove all bus stops & auto stands which is near by signals.

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  13. There is a big contribution from a Ex MLA who is now posing in most of facebook posts cleaning gutters and what not and projecting himself as a honest worker for the delay and cost escalation of Ring road .

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  14. One thing we can do is make this list and put it at all entry points to Belgaum on big boards, funding by crowd sourcing. Put one at Bogarves, CBT, Railway Station, Sambra and so on. Let people of the great democracy know how long they have been taken for a ride.

    Reply
  15. Referring to the comments passed in August 2016. :KARNATAKA STATE CRICKET ASSOCIATION (KSCA) INTERNATIONAL STADIUM ; WORKED HAD BEGUN IN 2009 BUT AFTER THE INITIAL GROUND LEVELING NOTHING IS HAPPENING.
    SEEING IS BELIEVING. KSCA HAS NOT LEFT THE GROUND JUST LEVELING IT BUT LAID THE 7 TURF WICKETS IN THE CENTER. .ALL THE KSCA REGISTERED TOURNAMENTS HAVE BEEN HELD DURING LAST 4 YEARS & IT IS READY FOR THIS SEASON ALSO. 5 INTER ZONAL MATCHES OF NATIONAL CRICKET ACADEMY WERE HELD & 2 RANAJI MATCHES AS WELL. N.C.A. U-19 GIRLS’ 4WEEK TRAINING CAMP WAS HELD IN AUG-SEPT 2017. GALLERY & SPORTS COMPLEX WORTH 24 CR.IS NEARING COMPLETION.

    Reply

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