Machinery being shifted after it was used for the Macche-Halga bypass on the Belagavi-Panaji NH4A. Captured by : Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
Work on the 11km Macche-Halga bypass on the Belagavi-Panaji NH4A has hit a major road block as a court has ordered authorities not to restart work until the hearing on the plea lodged by farmers is complete.
The work on the bypass has been delayed for over 3 years now, as farmers have been opposing the implementation of the project citing loss of fertile land.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up the six-laning of the Belagavi-Khanapur 25 km highway, which is almost complete. Apart from cutting short the distance to reach the main NH4 to proceed to Hyderabad, Kolhapur and Dharwad, the bypass is expected to reduce traffic congestion in Belagavi city, saving fuel and time of commuters.
Work on the bypass was taken up in 2018 amid stiff resistance of farmers. Since then, the farmers have been protesting against its implementation. Ignoring protests by farmers, the NHAI had taken up the work since November, after which a protesting farmer youth had self-immolated as a mark of protest.
However, as the work on the by-pass continued, farmers had filed a plea with the local court here. The NHAI has now received a major jolt as after a few hearings, the court has now directed NHAI authorities to stop the work immediately till the hearing is complete.
Accordingly, the contractor has started moving the machinery out of the site as the hearing is likely to prolong further.
Authorities have taken an all-out initiative to complete the bypass for the convenience of commuters from the region, a senior official said.
The work on the bypass has been delayed for over 3 years now, as farmers have been opposing the implementation of the project citing loss of fertile land.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up the six-laning of the Belagavi-Khanapur 25 km highway, which is almost complete. Apart from cutting short the distance to reach the main NH4 to proceed to Hyderabad, Kolhapur and Dharwad, the bypass is expected to reduce traffic congestion in Belagavi city, saving fuel and time of commuters.
Work on the bypass was taken up in 2018 amid stiff resistance of farmers. Since then, the farmers have been protesting against its implementation. Ignoring protests by farmers, the NHAI had taken up the work since November, after which a protesting farmer youth had self-immolated as a mark of protest.
However, as the work on the by-pass continued, farmers had filed a plea with the local court here. The NHAI has now received a major jolt as after a few hearings, the court has now directed NHAI authorities to stop the work immediately till the hearing is complete.
Accordingly, the contractor has started moving the machinery out of the site as the hearing is likely to prolong further.
Authorities have taken an all-out initiative to complete the bypass for the convenience of commuters from the region, a senior official said.
