The road infrastructure of North Karnataka, particularly Hubballi-Dharwad, is expected to get a major boost with Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari sanctioning works worth Rs. 925 crore in and around the twin-cities, including the development of NH-4A from Ramanagar to the Goa border.
The announcement came during the foundation laying ceremony for strengthening and widening of the Vijayapura-Hubballi section of NH 218 worth Rs. 462 crore and after various speakers including BJP State president and MP Pralhad Joshi, and State Public Works Minister H.C. Mahadevappa presented a list of demands pertaining to various road works to the Union Minister.
Responding to the pleas made by Mr. Joshi, Mr Mahadevappa, district-in-charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, and former Minister Basavaraj Horatti (with whom he had a meeting on Monday night on the road issues), the Union Minister announced that he was sanctioning projects worth Rs. 625 crore, and also Rs. 300 crore for construction of flyovers at Kittur Chennamma Circle in Hubballi and Jubilee Circle in Dharwad. In addition he announced sanction for two Road Over-Bridges (ROBs) in Vijayapura and Koppal districts.
Cost sharing
However, Mr. Gadkari refrained from making a commitment on the cost-sharing ratio for the road development projects that required land acquisition. On the demand from Mr. Mahadevappa, Mr. Vinay Kulkarni and Mr. Basavaraj Horatti about reducing the cost-sharing ratio between State and Centre to 25:75, Mr. Gadkari invited the Karnataka Ministers and MPs to New Delhi to hold a detailed discussion. “A decision in this regard will be taken after meeting at New Delhi and you will be informed about it”, he told the gathering.
Mr Mahadevappa and Mr. Kulkarni had mentioned about the huge cost of the 33-km ring road project for Hubballi-Dharwad and had urged the Centre to bear 75 per cent of the cost.
The works sanctioned
· Four-laning of NH-63 in Kalghatagi town limits - Rs. 60 cr.
· Four-laning of NH-63 in Hubballi city limits - Rs. 250 cr.
· Reconstruction of minor bridge on NH-63 near Dastikoppa - Rs. 15 cr.
· Ramanagar to Karnataka border of NH-4A - Rs. 300 cr.
· Flyovers at Kittur Chennamma Circle in Hubballi and Jubilee Circle in Dharwad - Rs. 300 cr.
