Close on the heels of citizens and eminent personalities taking to the streets to protest against bad roads, former chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar inspected the ongoing road repair works that have begun in some localities of the district.
Accompanied by the Mayor Shivu Hiremath, HDMC commissioner Noor Mansur and other officials and councillors, Mr. Shettar began his inspection of road repair works from Sainagar in Unakal and visited several other roads including those at Lingaraj Nagar and other areas.
Speaking to press persons during the inspection, Mr. Shettar said that he had directed officials to ensure that quality road repair work was done. He said that considering the sorry state of the roads, the Deputy Commisssioner of Dharwad was asked to initiate road development works immediately under emergency works.
He admitted that although repair works had begun, the quality of the works was not satisfactory and the officials had been directed to take remedial measures. He said that during the meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad, he had suggested taking up repair works of important junctions in the twin cities and shortly it would be taken up.
Mayor Shivu Hiremath said that in addition to repairing the roads dug up for the underground drainage network and filling the potholes, several main roads would be asphalted and the road at Sainagar to Unakal Cross was one among them. He said that the funds for the works were being mobilised through different heads.
Apathy
Replying to a query, Mr. Shettar alleged that although lack of funds for developmental works for Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation was raised on several occasions and plea for release of funds at least for the sanctioned works was made, the state government was apathetic towards the issue. “The people of North Karnataka are being meted out step-motherly treatment. We have raised the issue several times, will raise it again and if nothing happens, then agitation will be the only option”, he said.
Mr. Shettar said that even the sanctioned funds for the twin cities were not being released resulting in stoppage of development works.
2.5 km concrete road
If everything goes as planned, the work on laying a 2.5 km concrete road stretch on Gokul Road will begin by the end of this month.
Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar said that as a chief minister he had sanctioned Rs. 7 crore project for development of Gokul Road. “Subsequently we changed the proposal to make it a concrete road and out of Rs. 7 crore 2.5 km concrete road could be laid. The project is sanctioned and the tenders will be finalised by December 15 and the work will start by month-end”, he said.
Mr. Shettar said that another Rs. 12 crore was required for laying the remaining stretch of Airport road into a concrete road and a proposal had already been submitted to the government for approval.
