Unfurling the national tricolour at the District Stadium on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, Belagavi District In-charge and Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi outlined a series of transformative infrastructure works and shared major progress milestones of government welfare schemes across the district.
Major Infrastructure & Development Projects
1. Belagavi City Flyover Projects (Over ₹515 Crore)
- Phase 1 (₹275.53 Crore): Sanctioned for constructing a flyover from Sankam Hotel to Rani Chennamma Circle via Ashoka Circle and Sangolli Rayanna Circle. The tender submission deadline is set for August 17.
- Phase 2 (₹240 Crore): Approved for extending the elevated corridor from Rani Chennamma Circle to Dharmaveer Sambhaji Circle. Soil testing and Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation are actively underway.
2. New Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex (₹75 Crore)
- Administrative and technical approvals have been secured for the new DC office complex, funded jointly by the Revenue Department (₹55 crore) and the PWD (₹20 crore). The project has reached the tender stage and construction is slated to commence shortly.
3. District Stadium Upgradation (₹10 Crore)
- Upgradation and construction works at the Belagavi District Stadium are currently in progress with an approved outlay of ₹10 crore.
Implementation of Guarantee Schemes
Minister Jarkiholi also highlighted the extensive reach of the state government’s key welfare initiatives in the region:
- Shakti Scheme:
- Duration: 1,147 days (June 11, 2023 – July 31, 2026) across Belagavi, Chikkodi, and Dharwad divisions (16 depots, 1,661 daily buses).
- Ridership: Out of 92.24 crore total commuters, 61.79 crore were women (67%), with cumulative zero-fare ticket value crossing ₹1,599 crore.
- Gruha Jyothi: Over 10.33 lakh households out of 10.55 lakh eligible consumers in the district are receiving up to 200 units of free power monthly.
- Gruha Lakshmi: 12.02 lakh women heads of households have registered, with ₹6,824 crore directly transferred to their bank accounts across 31 monthly installments (₹2,000/month).
Honouring the Legacy of Freedom Fighters
Addressing the gathering, the Minister paid rich tributes to freedom fighters from Belagavi who spearheaded the resistance against British colonial rule, including Kittur Rani Chennamma, Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna and his fellow martyrs (Balanaik, Kalabasappa, Bhima Jiddimani, Appaji Kenchanayaka, Basavalingappa, and Kenchappa), as well as Gangadhar Deshpande (Karnatakaada Simha and Khadi Bhageeratha).
