Even as land acquisition for the ambitious Ring Road around Belagavi city stands largely complete, construction is yet to begin due to legal hurdles. Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan said disputes over nearly 55 acres of land are currently pending before the High Court, holding up the project.
The district administration has already acquired about 1,248 acres and disbursed compensation to farmers, subsequently handing over the land to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). However, delays in tendering and execution were compounded after the project was dropped from the Centre’s Bharatmala Pariyojana.
Envisaged at a cost of around ₹1,300 crore, the 69–70 km Ring Road is expected to ease city traffic and improve connectivity to key routes towards Goa, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. It is also seen as a major boost for industrial growth, allowing heavy vehicles to bypass the city.
To safeguard the acquired land, the administration has directed NHAI officials to dig trenches along both sides of the proposed alignment to prevent encroachment and cultivation. Roshan indicated that work could take off next year if the project is included in the next phase and pending disputes are resolved.