The long-pending issue of reopening the road in front of Shiva Srushti in Shahapur has gained fresh momentum, with Deputy Commissioner Belagavi Mohammad Roshan stepping in to resolve the matter. According to officials, compensation for three gunthas of land will be required to open the road for traffic.
The DC has reportedly held discussions with the concerned landowners, and movement has begun towards resolving the issue through compensation. Efforts are also underway to reopen the road during the ongoing legislature session in Belagavi.
Municipal authorities have been entrusted with the responsibility of opening the road. However, the issue remained unresolved due to lack of coordinated action and complications surrounding land compensation. A key question that now remains is which agency—the municipal corporation or the smart city department—will bear the cost of compensation and subsequently take ownership of the land.
Earlier, in 2024, the Belagavi City Corporation had proposed paying ₹20 crore as compensation for the road. This decision faced strong opposition, which demanded that the land instead be returned to its original owners. Following this, the corporation revised its stand and decided against paying compensation.
The then commissioner informed the Dharwad Bench of the High Court about the revised decision, after which the corporation issued orders to return the land. Accordingly, the land was handed back to the original owners in September 2024, leading to the closure of the road.
A fresh survey has now indicated that a 40-foot-wide road can be opened if compensation is paid for three gunthas of land. With Guardian Minister Satish Jarkiholi taking an active interest in reopening the road, a final decision on compensation is expected soon.