The Hindu               03.01.2014

Dharwad’s roads to get a facelift

The city’s roads, which have been in a bad shape for a long time, will soon receive a facelift, according to Aravind Bellad, MLA.

Mr. Bellad, who spoke to presspersons here on Thursday, said the government had approved a proposal to develop major roads in the city. A concrete road would be constructed from Jubilee Circle to Shivalli Circle at a cost of Rs. 7 crore.

It will pass through the City Bus-Stand (CBT). Another proposal was placed before the government, seeking Rs. 9 crore to construct a concrete road between KCC Bank and Swami Vivekananda Circle.

It is likely that the government will approve this as well, he said, adding that he had set a goal of concretising all the major roads in the city during his tenure.

Replying to a query, Mr. Bellad said the government had also sanctioned Rs. 75 lakh to lay a new water pipeline from Old DSP Circle to Murughamath. The road on this stretch is part of the Dharwad-Savadatti State highway. The entire road would be developed once the pipeline is laid.

In addition, pothole-filling work will begin in a few days, he added.

Grants released

After a long wait, the government has released grants for development activities in slums. A sum of Rs. 55.53 crore will make sure that at least some of the selected slums in Hubli-Dharwad get a facelift, Mr. Bellad said.

The funds were released under the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana, and will be used to develop slums identified in Dharwad (Nehru Nagar, Shivashakti Colony and Anjaneya Nagar) and Hubli (Rajiv Gandhi Colony).

In the first phase 1,056 houses will be constructed in these slums. In addition, these slums would be provided basic amenities such as drinking water connections, streetlights, and good roads. Another 1,074 houses will be constructed for slum-dwellers living without shelter. The government has already identified land at Tadasinakoppa for a housing complex based on the ‘G plus 2’ model.

In the four identified slums, independent houses will be constructed; the ‘G plus 2’ model will not be applicable.

Councillors Shivu Hiremath, Vijayanand Shetty, Sanjay Kapatkar, Poorna Patil, and Mohan Ramdurg were present.