Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar has urged Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to allow the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to begin the bidding process for the construction of the proposed 4/6-lane bypass around Belagavi.
During a meeting with the Union Minister at the new Parliament House in New Delhi, Shettar said the nearly 70-km bypass, planned under three packages, is essential to ease traffic congestion in and around Belagavi and improve the movement of vehicles.
Shettar pointed out that land acquisition for Package-1, covering about 35 km from NH-4A (Goa side) to NH-4 (Pune side), has made significant progress, with around 80% of the land acquisition and 88% of compensation disbursal already completed.
However, the Ministry has directed that construction under all three packages should commence only after the completion of land acquisition and compensation processes. Shettar requested Gadkari to permit the bidding process for Package-1 immediately so that work on the first stretch can begin without waiting for the remaining packages.
The MP also raised concerns regarding the new six-lane Belagavi–Hungund–Raichur highway, stating that farmers in several villages across Belagavi, Bailhongal and Ramdurg taluks have not been provided with adequate access roads to reach their agricultural fields. He urged the Ministry to include service or connecting roads at necessary locations to ensure farmers are not inconvenienced.
According to Shettar, Union Minister Gadkari responded positively to both requests and assured him that the issues would be examined and appropriate action would be taken in the larger public interest.