Plans are afoot to take up the 2.2-km Shirur Park Road here under Tender SURE (Specifications for Urban Road Execution).
Following an initiative taken by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar, Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi and Hubli-Dharwad West MLA Arvind Bellad, the Public Works Department is set to implement this project, irrespective of the fact that a similar project has drawn flak in Bengaluru. Interestingly, Public Works Department has roped in Jana Urban Space Foundation that designed the Bengaluru project.
At a meeting here on Sunday, Mr. Shettar said that the Shirur Park Road will be the first Tender SURE road here.
Estimated cost
The estimated project cost was Rs. 25 crore-Rs. 27 crore. While the Public Works Department had released Rs. 7 crore, and has promised to release more funds, the balance amount will be procured from other sources, he said.
Jana Urban Space Foundation chairperson Swati Ramanathan said that the project will ensure the integration of networked services under the road — water, sewage, power, OFC, etc., and prioritise the comfort and safety of pedestrians, cyclists and the needs of street vendors and hawkers.
Mr. Shettar told the officials to complete the procedures related to the implementation of this scheme within three months. However, Hubballi Electricity Supply Company officials said that they had already completed work to lay high tension cable on the stretch. To this, Ms. Ramanathan said that HESCOM should have been alerted about the proposed scheme.
Although a similar project has been proposed between the Old Deputy Superintendent of Police Office and Murughamutt in Dharwad, it was not discussed at the meeting. Minister in-charge of the district Vinay Kulkarni came to the meeting in the last minute and refrained from making any comments.
