Venkaiah Naidu is unhappy over snail pace of BRTS work

HUBBALLI: Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday expressed his displeasure over the snail pace of Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) work. Inspecting the work at Hosur terminal, he directed officials to complete the work within a given deadline. "The deadline was extended thrice and we are aware that people are struggling to travel on this road," he added.
The minister expressed his concern over the project cost and said that it will keep on increasing if the deadline is extended again. "The officials should pressurize contractors to complete the works within the deadline," he said.
Later, speaking at a function organization by Credai, he said that the most of development projects are delayed due to land disputes. "Land acquisition is the biggest problem in our country. BRTS should find out solutions to land acquisition issues and complete the work as early possible as early. The Hosur terminal should be ready on March, 2017," he said.
Felicitation
Also in the day, the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) and various organizations felicitated Naidu. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that it was necessary to make Hubballi-Dharwad a Smart City and implement bus rapid transport system as it is a historical and cultural centre.
Reviewing the presentation by HDMC commissioner Siddalingayya Hiremath, Naidu said that the project will be implemented on a PPP model basis so that the public can be involved with enthusiasm. "The local authority will display digital images in schools, colleges and public places and those images should contain past, present and future condition of the area selected under the project. It will help people imagine the future of the city," he said.
Opposition leader in the assembly and former CM Jagadish Shettar, MP Pralhad Joshi, MLA Arvind Bellad, MLCs Basavaraj Horatti and Pradeep Shettar, deputy mayor Lakshimi Uppar, DC S B Bommanahalli and BRTS MD M G Hiremath were present also on the occasion.