BELAGAVI
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday laid the foundation stone for five national highway projects, including the two-laning of the Sankhali-Jamboti-Belagavi road to Goa.
He sanctioned the much-needed and long-pending Ring Road around Belagavi and also assured that the major roads and highways in Karnataka would be like those in the USA by December 2024.
Gadkari was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the five major highways in Karnataka and Goa region at a function in the District Stadium here.
The National Highway projects worth Rs 3,972 crore and covering a total of 238 km in length were inaugurated in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, Karnataka PWD Minister C C Patil, MP Mangala Angadi and others.
The five projects consist of the six-laning of Belagavi-Sankeshwar highway (40.07 km, Rs 1,479.3 crore), six-laning of Sankeshwar bypass to Maharashtra border (69.17 km, Rs 1,388.7 crore), two-laning of Sanquelim-Jamboti-Belagavi road on NH 48A (69.17 km, Rs 246.78 crore), two-laning of paved shoulder from Vijaipura to Murgundy (Rs 79.70 crore) and widening of two-lane Siddapur to Vijaipura (11.62 km, Rs 90.13 crore).
“Development of any nation depends on its road connectivity. With the improved road connectivity, the agricultural sector, industries, tourism, etc. would develop at a faster pace which in turn generate more employment for the youth in Karnataka,” said Gadkari.
Speaking on the occasion, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai promised that the State government would provide immunity, land acquisition and other cooperation.
He also praised Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s initiative in taking the nation to greater heights by constructing a wider network of national highways across the nation in record time.
Bommai also announced the setting up of ‘Jal Shakti’ development project along the National Highways in Karnataka.
“The first phase of this project will be implemented alongside Kittur-Kognolli near the Maharashtra border,” said Bommai, while assuring that the work would commence soon.
Implementation of Jal Shakti helps in the conservation of groundwater after excavation of water bodies, streams, etc. along the national highways, where the NHAI gets mud for the construction while the groundwater level improves.
