The Shahapur Closed Road(road Connecting Old Dharwad road from Bank of India circle which is partially closed) controversy, already notorious for a ₹20 crore compensation debacle, has resurfaced with another compensation order. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Belagavi has directed a payment of ₹2.60 crore for 18 gunthas of land acquired without proper acquisition procedures. This new financial liability adds to the woes of the cash-strapped Municipal Corporation.
The land in question, located in Survey Number 321/A/1,2,3, belongs to Lakshmi Maruti Kangralkar-Patil, Nagesh Maruti Kangralkar-Patil, and Vishal Maruti Kangralkar-Patil. The landowners filed a claim in court, asserting that the road was constructed without lawful acquisition of their property. The High Court referred the matter to the DC, who, after hearings, ordered the compensation.
Smart City Department Passes the Buck
The road, constructed by the Belagavi Smart City Ltd. connecting Shahapur Corner to Old Dharwad Road, has sparked confusion. While the department executed the project, it reportedly failed to acquire the required land legally.

This is not the first time Shahapur Closed Road has caused a stir. Earlier, ₹20 crore was allocated for compensation to another landowner, B.T. Patil, for the same road. When the Municipal Corporation failed to pay, Patil filed a contempt petition. In response, the court ordered the return of Patil’s land, leading to the closure of the road in September.
The new ₹2.60 crore compensation order is expected to reignite political tensions within the Municipal Corporation, which is already grappling with financial challenges. The corporation had sent a land acquisition proposal to the state government for approval during the earlier case, but procedural delays and disputes have resulted in repeated setbacks.
With mounting liabilities and limited funds, the Municipal Corporation faces an uphill battle to resolve the compensation issues tied to Shahapur Closed Road. Local politics are expected to heat up as this latest order adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious issue.
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