The long-pending work on widening the nearly 5.5-km stretch of the Belagavi-Khanapur-Goa road (NH4A) between Goaves and Machhe commenced amid protests by a few affected persons here on Tuesday.
Public Works Department officials and their staff equipped with earth movers went ahead with clearing encroachments and obstructions on either side of the road. Owners of a few structures, who had obtained a stay against the demolition, were spared for the moment. Others welcomed the development and cooperated with the demolition squad.
The PWD had publicly announced that encroachments on the stretch of the road from Mahaveer Bhavan to 3rd railway gate would be cleared from Tuesday morning. Over 50 shop owners, who claimed to have obtained the stay, said the court had ordered that road-widening should be taken up only after completing the process of land acquisition.
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Feroz N. Sait, MLA, who arrived at the scene, told presspersons that the it was a long-felt necessity to widen the road due to the increase in vehicular traffic in the past several years, which led to congestion and accidents. The government had cleared a Rs. 46-crore proposal for the purpose. He said the road would be upgraded into a six-lane stretch to provide smooth vehicular movement. Bicycle tracks on both sides of the road would also be provided for the convenience of students and workers. Mr. Sait promised to make alternate arrangements for shop owners affected by the work. A proposal would be taken up for consideration at the next meeting of the Belagavi City Corporation council, he said. Mayor Kiran Sayanak was present.