NEW DELHI / BELAGAVI: Member of Parliament Jagadish Shettar met with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, at his office in the new Parliament House in New Delhi to discuss key highway infrastructure projects, primarily focusing on the long-pending Belagavi Ring Road project.
During the meeting, MP Shettar submitted a formal representation urging the Ministry to clear the bidding process for Package-1 of the proposed 70 km Belagavi Ring Road (4/6-lane bypass) to relieve severe traffic congestion in and around the city.
Bidding Approval Sought for Belagavi Ring Road (Package-1)
To redirect heavy traffic away from city limits and enable seamless transit, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has planned a 70 km Ring Road project surrounding Belagavi city, divided into three operational packages.
Highlighting progress on the first phase, Shettar informed the Minister that:
- Package-1 covers a 35 km stretch connecting Km 11.00 (Goa side) of NH-4A to Km 516.000 (Pune side) of NH-4.
- 80% of land acquisition and 88% of compensation distribution for Package-1 have already been completed.
However, under current Ministry guidelines, actual road construction across all three packages is restricted from starting until land acquisition and compensation payouts for Packages 2 and 3 are fully completed.
To avoid unnecessary delays and address urban traffic bottlenecks immediately, Shettar requested Minister Gadkari to relax this condition and grant permission to invite tenders for Package-1 right away.
Directives Requested for Belagavi–Hungund–Raichur Corridor
Alongside the Ring Road issue, Shettar brought up farmer connectivity concerns regarding the proposed 6-lane Belagavi–Hungund–Raichur highway project.
He noted that in several villages across Belagavi, Bailhongal, and Ramdurg taluks, agricultural workers are struggling to access their fields because continuous service and access roads were omitted from the current project layout.
Shettar urged the Ministry to direct officials to incorporate necessary connecting roads at key junctions.
Union Minister Assures Swift Action
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari reviewed both demands sympathetically and assured MP Shettar that the Ministry would evaluate the proposals promptly and take quick action in the public interest.
