After more than six years of starts, stops and courtroom-style hurdles, Belagavi’s new City Bus Terminal — built by Belagavi Smart City Ltd — is finally ready for use. The facility is scheduled to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on October 4, 2025, bringing to a close a project that began with high hopes and a ritual bhoomi puja in 2019. The Times of India+1
From bhoomi puja to nearly a decade of delay
The story began formally on 16 February 2019, when the foundation ceremony (bhoomi puja) marked the start of construction with an optimistic completion window of 24 months. But the 24-month promise proved fragile: work stalled repeatedly and the shell of the new terminal remained invisible to passersby for long stretches, even as the city’s traffic and commuter needs grew.
A principal reason for the long delay was a dispute with the Belagavi Cantonment Board. Project documents and local reports show the terminal was planned on 2.07 acres, of which 32 gunthas fell under the Cantonment’s jurisdiction — an area that the board said was used without prior permission. The Cantonment’s objections temporarily halted work and forced multiple rounds of negotiation and redesign before construction could resume.
What’s been built — design and facilities
When complete, the terminal occupies about 8,382.6 sq. m. and rises Basement + Lower Ground + Upper Ground + three additional floors. It was designed as a mixed transit-commercial hub with:
- 28 transit bays (20 angular, 8 linear) on the lower ground to manage bus movement efficiently;
- Retail area of 2,906.55 sq. m. on the upper ground floor;
- Commercial office space of 2,595.94 sq. m. on the first floor and additional NWKRTC office space on higher floors;
- A restaurant on the second floor and commercial terraces above; and
- A basement parking facility for 133 cars and 51 two-wheelers, plus separate two-wheeler parking at grade. All About Belgaum+1
Smart City materials and contractor notices put the project cost in the neighborhood of ₹33–33.5 crore, and confirm that the work formally began with the 2019 bhoomi puja before the interruptions. YouTube+1
How the terminal will change commuting in Belagavi
City planners describe the development as more than a bus stand: it’s a transit node with integrated retail and office space meant to generate non-fare revenue and improve passenger convenience. The Lower Ground Floor handles the bus bays and boarding, while the Upper Ground becomes the passenger concourse — waiting areas, shops, and vertical circulation (escalators) that connect commuters to the parking and commercial levels above. A subway / pedestrian connection to the main terminus was included in the design to ease foot movement across busy streets.
Local transport managers say the facility will also help NWKRTC operations by providing dedicated office and operations space, better bus parking and a more organised timetable hub — improvements that should reduce layovers and improve on-time performance for many routes that start or pass through Belagavi. The Times of India
Behind the numbers are stories of vendors who hoped for new kiosks, daily-wage workers whose livelihoods depend on a bustling terminal, and thousands of commuters — students, office workers and traders — who expect shorter waits and cleaner amenities. For small traders who have endured years of uncertainty around contracts and stall allocation, the terminal’s retail row promises a steady footfall; for drivers and conductors, a properly laid out layover area and improved parking will mean less chaos during peak hours.
Why this matters: modern, well-planned bus terminals are low-cost, high-impact infrastructure for cities like Belagavi — they cut congestion, improve safety, and create pockets of commerce. For a city that has seen repeated project delays, the opening of this terminal is a reminder that persistence, local negotiation and a willingness to adapt design to legal realities can finally produce a public asset that commuters will use every day.