Guardian Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, and district officials inspected potential sites for the new Deputy Commissioner (DC) office in Belagavi on April 1. While locations such as Hindalga, Kanbargi, and Suvarna Vidhana Soudha were assessed, their distance from the city has raised concerns about public inconvenience.
Due to this, sources indicate that the new DC office building is now likely to be constructed within the existing premises of the current office in Belagavi. The plan is to preserve the historic architecture of the existing Collectorate and Regional Commissioner’s buildings while upgrading the facilities. However, the Sub-Registrar Office is expected to be demolished to make space for the new integrated building.
The State Government has already sanctioned a grant for this project, aiming to bring all key administrative offices under one roof for efficiency. A previous plan by the Public Works Department (PWD) was in place, but officials now suggest that revisions will be necessary to accommodate the heritage conservation concerns.
The sudden shift in focus toward preserving the city’s architectural legacy has sparked debate. While many hail it as a positive move, the revised approach will inevitably cause delays. New architectural plans must be drawn up, and construction is unlikely to begin before the monsoon season ends.
Ministers and officials have emphasized that the final blueprint should include a dedicated protest zone to ease traffic woes during demonstrations. They also suggest that Rani Chennamma Circle should be off-limits for any protest activities in the future, considering its central and sensitive location.