The implementation of the CITIIS 2.0 project in Belagavi has suffered another setback, as the Central Government has rejected three key projects included in the final proposal prepared by the Smart City Department. The decision is expected to delay further the rollout of the urban infrastructure and solid waste management scheme.
The issue came up for discussion during a review meeting held on Monday, attended by Municipal Commissioner Kartik M., Smart City Managing Director Kavita Warangal, Superintending Engineer Lakshmi Nipanikar, Assistant Executive Engineer Hanmant Kaladgi, and other officials.
During the meeting, officials confirmed that three projects included in the CITIIS 2.0 proposal were not approved by the Centre. As a result, the Smart City Department has asked the Belagavi City Corporation to identify and propose three alternative projects based on the city’s current requirements.
Once the Municipal Corporation finalises the replacement projects, they will be incorporated into a revised CITIIS 2.0 proposal. The updated plan will then be routed through the Karnataka Government before being resubmitted to the Central Government for approval.
The latest development is likely to push back the implementation timeline of CITIIS 2.0, which has already witnessed delays over funding approvals and project finalisation.
Earlier, the Belagavi City Corporation had begun groundwork for the scheme by identifying sites for three Secondary Transport Stations (STS), a key component of the city’s proposed scientific solid waste management system. The Corporation had also approved its financial contribution to the project and submitted the final blueprint for approval. However, with the rejection of three projects by the Centre, the plan will now have to be revised before implementation can move forward.