Minister Roshan Baig found looking for answers in vain

Minister for Urban Development, Haj and Wakf R. Roshan Baig, at a press conference he addressed soon after reviewing the progress of various works in the Belagavi City Corporation limits here on Thursday, was found looking to his sides expecting answers from the officials concerned on the construction of a flyover in vain.

The Minister reviewed the progress of works with officials of the corporation, the Belagavi Urban Development Authority, the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board and the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation at a closed door meeting at the Circuit House.

Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram, corporation Commissioner G. Prabhu and KUWSDB Executive Engineer Prasanna Murthy were present.

The Minister said that a flyover would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 85 crore but was not aware of the fact that the project was proposed about a year ago and that the proposal was yet take shape, right from the stage of preparing a comprehensive plan.

The corporation officials who were present chose to remain silent on the matter when the Minster was looking for answers from them. So was the district in-charge and Small Scale Industries Minister Ramesh L. Jarkiholi, who, however, said that matter would be pursued expeditiously hereafter.

The Minister said that all the 58 wards in the corporation would be connected with 24 x 7 drinking water supply project at a cost of Rs. 663 crore by the end of 2026, even as the project has already been implemented in 10 wards. The process of issuing tenders for various works under the project was under way and works would start once the contracts were finalised.

Also the Hubballi Electricity Supply Company had taken up laying of underground cables at a cost of Rs. 370 crore which was in various stages of progress.

The construction of the railway overbridge on Kapileshwar Road was nearing completion and the work on another such bridge on the Old P.B. Road would commence soon.

Also, the State government had agreed in principle for construction of three more such bridges across the I, II and III railway gates in the city and also promised to contribute its share of 50 per cent of funds towards these projects, which would be executed by the Indian Railways.