BELAGAVI
Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi has stated that his department has created a record of sorts by developing highways, state and inter-state roads, local roads and ghat roads.
This particularly includes the reconstruction and recarpeting of the Karnataka side of Belagavi-Goa road that was done on priority. He also ascertained that a few hiccups in the completion of the Belagavi-Goa NH 748 AA have been cleared and the work is now being executed at a faster pace. He was addressing the media persons at ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by the Print Media Association of Belagavi.
“The Government of Karnataka under the leadership of CM Siddaramiah has successfully completed two years of its term. The PWD Department is implementing all the road projects in an effective manner and fast pace. Forty-two national highway projects were undertaken in the state and 27 have been completed in the last two years and handed over to the Centre,” Jarkiholi said.
The work under his stewardship is being carried out with a long term vision as Karnataka and Belagavi in particular should have much better roads in near future for which the state government has allocated sufficient funds, the minister added.
Criticising the BJP, Jarkiholi said Rs 12,000 crore worth of projects were undertaken without proper budget allocation, however, measures have been initiated to clear old bills, he said.
Belagavi (North) MLA Asif (Raju) Sait was also present at the event. Earlier, Print Media Association of Belagavi President Vilas Joshi and Secretary Naushad Bijapur welcomed the minister.
‘Unable to widen Belagavi-Chorla road’
BELAGAVI: Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi expressed inability to widen the Belagavi-Goa road via Chorla due to restrictions by the Forest Department.
“The central forest authorities have not permitted to widen Belagavi-Chorla state highway and hence, the current width of 5.5 metres had to be maintained. We had sought a 7.5 metre wide road to facilitate better traffic movement,” said the minister.
“Hence, the current road work of about 44 kms had to be completed after an allocation of Rs 58 crore by the NHAI. I was personally monitoring the quality and progress of the work,” Jarkiholi said.
