Belagavi is in the final stages of discussions to attract a major Information Technology (IT) company to the city, a move that could create nearly 2,000 employment opportunities for local youth, Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil said on Tuesday.
Speaking at an event in Ward No. 43, Patil said efforts were being made to bring new employment-generating industries to Belagavi and provide local youngsters with opportunities closer to home.
He highlighted the growing migration of educated youth from Belagavi to Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad in search of jobs and career opportunities. Establishing a major IT company in the city, he said, would help address this trend and strengthen Belagavi’s position as an emerging Tier-2 business and technology destination.
Push to Restore Discontinued Air Connectivity
Patil also stressed the importance of strong air connectivity in attracting IT companies and other major investments to Tier-2 cities.
He said Belagavi had earlier emerged as one of the prominent airports under the UDAN-3 regional connectivity scheme, but several routes have subsequently been discontinued.
According to Patil, efforts are underway to restore air services connecting Belagavi with important industrial and commercial centres, including Udaipur, Jaipur and Chennai. He said he would also seek the intervention of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to expedite the restoration of these routes.
₹60-Crore Cable Car Proposed for Yellur Fort
As part of efforts to strengthen tourism infrastructure, Patil revealed that a ₹60-crore proposal has been prepared for a cable car facility at the historic Yellur Fort (Rajhansgad).
The proposal, he said, has already been discussed with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
Patil said Belagavi has significant potential for heritage, religious and eco-tourism, but the region needs greater promotion and better tourism infrastructure to attract visitors.
He also said that four major projects at the Vaccine Depot grounds are nearing completion and are expected to be inaugurated in November.
MLA Flags Delays in 24×7 Water Supply Project
Patil also expressed concern over delays in the city’s 24×7 drinking water supply project, criticising the prolonged execution period and rising project costs.
He said the project, which was originally scheduled for completion by 2016, has faced significant delays, with the project cost now reaching approximately ₹588 crore.
He also raised concerns over poor coordination among government agencies. Freshly laid roads, he said, are frequently being dug up for pipeline-related works, causing inconvenience to residents and damaging newly developed road infrastructure.
Focus on Jobs, IT and Defence Manufacturing
Patil said Belagavi’s development agenda must go beyond basic infrastructure and focus on creating sustainable employment opportunities.
“Basic infrastructure alone is not enough for Belagavi; we must create jobs for local youth right here. Continuous efforts are underway to realise an IT park, defence manufacturing units and tourism initiatives in the region,” he said.
The event was attended by Brahmin Samaj Trust Vice-President Bharath Deshpande, Aruna Nayak, Aravind Hungund, Madhu Gurav and Shekhar Inamdar, along with members of various Ganeshotsav committees and residents of the ward.
Earlier, Corporator Vani Joshi distributed chairs bearing the word “Hindu” to local Ganeshotsav committees as part of preparations for the festival.
