The Karnataka government will develop the Kittur Channamma Freedom Park at Kittur Fort in Belagavi district at a cost of ₹40 crore, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Sunday.
Addressing the valedictory function of the three-day Kittur Utsav, Shivakumar said the proposed Freedom Park would showcase the history and legacy of Rani Kittur Channamma through a sound-and-light show and high-tech installations. The project aims to preserve the region’s historical heritage and promote Kittur as a major tourist destination.
The funds will be allocated in the next state budget, and a formal government order will be issued, the Chief Minister said.
Shivakumar also announced that the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) would soon be renamed the Kittur Rani Channamma Road Transport Corporation, in recognition of the freedom fighter’s legacy.
In another major announcement, he said the government would accord financial approval for the ₹520-crore Channavrushabhendra Irrigation Project, which is expected to benefit the Kittur region.
Highlighting development initiatives in the constituency, the Chief Minister said projects worth nearly ₹1,000 crore had been undertaken, covering roads, irrigation, tourism, healthcare infrastructure and other public facilities, including a 100-bed hospital.
He praised Kittur MLA Babasaheb Patil for pursuing development works and said the government would continue supporting initiatives aimed at improving farmers’ livelihoods and strengthening local infrastructure.
Shivakumar described Rani Kittur Channamma as an iconic freedom fighter whose courage and resistance to British rule continue to inspire generations. He said developing Kittur Fort would help preserve this legacy and enable future generations to better understand the region’s history.