Public Works Department completes work on 27 projects, hands them over to NHAI

Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi speaking at a meet-the-press event in Belagavi on Wednesday. Member of Legislative Assembly Asif (Raju) Sait looks on. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER

As many as 27 of 42 major road works in the State have been completed and handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi said in Belagavi on Wednesday.

“Work on the remaining 15 projects is still going on and we are confident of completing them in the scheduled time,” he said during an interaction with journalists organised by the Belagavi Media Association.

The Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has completed two years. It has fulfilled most of its promises made to the people, he claimed.

“As promised in the Assembly election manifesto, we have successfully implemented the five guarantee schemes. In the first year, ₹50,000 crore were spent for the schemes and in the second, it was ₹56,000 crore,” he said.

“The Chief Minister has entrusted the Public Works Department to me and I am trying to work with a vision for the whole State. We want good roads everywhere. While the work of other departments may not be visible to everyone, the work of my department is visible. That is why, our responsibility is greater. At times, our work is slower due to technical problems like delay in land acquisition process or legal challenges,” he said.

The Minister said that the Congress government is tasked with clearing old bills left behind by the earlier governments. “Ten-year-old bills of contractors who have undertaken various development works assigned by my department were pending. Out of this, eight-year-old bills have been paid to the contractors in one go. All bills under ₹1 crore have been paid already. During the previous BJP government, various works were undertaken without setting aside funds for over ₹12,000 crore in the budget. But we are making attempts to pay the old bills,” Mr. Jarkiholi claimed.

He said that the Belagavi-Chorla road will not be widened as the Union Ministry of Forests and Ecology has declined permission for conversion of forest land. However, “we have improved the State Highway at a cost of ₹50 crore. Efforts have been made to maintain quality work,” he said.

An exclusive grant has been made for closing potholes, he added.

To a query, he said that the government will consider positively the demand for setting up an on-campus government engineering college in Visvesvaraya Technological University.

The Minister said that he favours plans to divide Belagavi which is among the largest districts in the State. “It needs to be divided for administrative convenience and made into three districts, Belagavi, Chikkodi and Gokak. The district division can be announced any time. However, it will take five years for it to be fully implemented,” he said.

Then Chief Minister J.H. Patel announced plans to divide the district. The people of the district welcomed it. But it was cancelled due to opposition from some groups, he said.

“Various development works have been undertaken in Belagavi district. A super-specialty hospital has been built on the premises of BIMS Hospital in Belagavi at a cost of ₹200 crore. Primary health center buildings have been constructed across the district. Three 100-bed hospitals are being built in Savadatti, Ramadurga and Athani taluks. A district-level hospital will be established in Gokak town,” he said.

The Public Works Department will develop two degree colleges in Majalatti and Bailhongal at a cost of ₹5 crore. The department has constructed 87 school buildings in the district. Water is being supplied to 100 villages through the Multi Village Drinking Water Project. A district stadium is being built in Ramatirth Nagar of Belagavi at a cost of ₹10 crore. Work to fill lakes in the district through irrigation projects is under way.

“Land acquisition has been carried out for the Belagavi Ring Road work and 80% of those who gave away land have been compensated. A flyover bridge will be built to connect two highways in Belagavi. Dargahs and temples on certain roads are obstructing traffic. Efforts will be made to remove them after taking the communities into confidence,” he said in response to a question.

Member of Legislative Assembly Asif (Raju) Sait, association president Vilas Joshi and others were present.

Published - June 05, 2025 06:58 pm IST