As work on the underpass near the Fourth Railway Gate in Belagavi is set to begin soon, local traders and residents have voiced concerns about the project’s impact on traffic and commercial activity in the area.
While expressing support for the underpass construction, the local business community has collectively urged the authorities to ensure that the adjacent service road remains at least 7 meters wide. Their main concern is that the revised plan for the underpass — which reportedly increases its width from the originally proposed 9 meters to 11.5 meters — could significantly reduce the width of the service road, leading to traffic congestion and disruption to their businesses.
Preliminary activities, including land measurements by the railway department, have already begun. According to residents and shopkeepers, the current service road near the gate is only around 13 feet (approximately 4 meters) wide. Widening the underpass without adjusting the service road accordingly could, they say, worsen the situation for both daily commuters and the local business ecosystem.
On Tuesday morning, several shopkeepers and traders assembled at the site to raise their concerns, emphasizing that while the infrastructure upgrade is welcome, it should not come at the cost of livelihoods or urban traffic flow. They stressed that a balanced plan accommodating both a functional underpass and an adequately wide service road is essential.
The traders also suggested that linking the parallel road along the railway track between the Fourth and Third Railway Gates with the existing flyover could ease traffic in the Udyambagh industrial area and reduce pressure on the main Ungol road.
Their collective appeal to the railway authorities and municipal officials is to conduct a thorough on-ground survey and engage with stakeholders before finalizing the construction plans. They reiterated that no one is opposing the underpass itself, but the project should be carried out with transparency, proper planning, and community involvement.