The long-awaited work on widening of the 5.5 km Belagavi-Khanapur-Goa Road (NH4A) from Goaves to Machhe commenced amidst protest by a few individuals in Belagavi on Tuesday.
The Public Works Department officials and their staff equipped with machinery went ahead with clearing encroachments on either side of the road. While few structures, whose owners had obtained stay order against demolition, were spared for the moment, several others welcomed the development and cooperated with the demolition squad in support of the road-widening work.
Feroz N. Sait, MLA, who arrived at the scene, told newsmen that the it was a long-felt necessity to widen the Road due to increase in vehicular traffic during the past several years, resulting in congestions and accidents. Request for widening of the road have been made by people for a long time and the Government had finally cleared the proposal and sanctioned Rs. 46 crore to implement the proposal.
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He said that the Road would be widened and upgraded into 12-feet wide six-lane stretch. Bicycle tracks on both sides of the road would also be provided for the convenience of large number of students, workers and others using bicycle.
Alternate arrangement
Mr.Sait assured to make alternate arrangements for the shop owners affected by the road widening work. A proposal in this regard would be taken up for consideration at the next Council meeting of Belagavi City Corporation, he said in presence of Mayor Kiran Sayanak.
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