BELAGAVI
Khanapur MLA Dr Anjali Nimbalkar has taken the Karnataka government to task by taking up the Belagavi-Goa NH4A issue in the ongoing monsoon session of the State Legislature. Expressing concern over the incomplete work between Khanapur and Anmod, Dr Nimbalkar raised strong objections to the dilapidated 54-km stretch of the highway, stating that commuters from both states have been left to suffer due to the government’s lethargy in completing the dilapidated state of the national highway.
Dr Nimbalkar, who had staged a rasta roko agitation a couple of months ago, had raised the issue during the question hour session.
“The work has been left incomplete for a couple of years now. Villagers from the locality, including students and commuters from Goa, are left in lurch as the dilapidated highway is posing serious problems. What steps has the government initiated to complete the highway and bring relief to thousands of commuters whose lives have become miserable,” asked Dr Nimbalkar during the session.
She also asked about repairs of the dilapidated highway between Khanapur and Anmod, which she said, had become unmotorable.
In his reply, PWD Minister C C Patil said the government has taken up the repair and reconstruction work on priority.
“The NHAI has taken up four laning of 84.12 kms from Belagavi to Anmod. Out of this, the Belagavi-Khanapur four-laning (30.8 kms) is under completion, while double-laning work from Khanapur to Anmod (54.12 kms) was stalled for over two years due to environmental issues,” Patil said.
Giving further details, he said the stay by environmentalists was vacated on March 30, but the deadline by forest department to complete the work had expired and hence, a letter from the department with renewed permission was handed over to NHAI on June 14.
“While the work couldn’t be commenced due to onset of monsoon and as the earlier contractor had withdrawn, new tenders were floated and the process is likely to be completed soon. Work is expected to commence soon and Rs 380 crore has been sanctioned for the completion of the stretch, Patil said.
Patil added that repair works of the stretch has been entrusted to Arjunvaishnavi Infrastructure.
He stated that repairs of the dilapidated stretches are in progress, adding that heavy vehicles are being diverted via Chandgad-Amboli, while other vehicles are being diverted via Chorla road.
