Belagavi BJP MP Jagadish Shettar meeting Union Minister for Roads and Highways Nitin Gadkariin New Delhi, seeking additional ₹900 crore for road development, women’s safety and modernisation.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Belagavi BJP MP Jagadish Shettar has sought additional funds of around ₹900 crore for road development, women’s safety and modernisation.
Mr. Shettar met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Saturday.
He submitted letters seeking Central financial assistance for several infrastructure and public transport initiatives in North Karnataka region. These include road widening, road improvements and safety systems for buses operated by the North Western Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC).
He also requested the Minister to sanction funds for multiple projects aimed at improving road connectivity and public transport safety in his Belagavi parliamentary constituency.
One of the major proposals needs ₹750 crore for widening and improving the Dharwad-Gokak Road via Savadatti and Yaragatti from a two-lane to a four-lane highway.
The 96-km stretch connects key locations, including Dharwad, Belagavi district, the Savadatti Yallamma temple and Gokak Falls, besides linking to National Highway 4 and National Highway 748 and serving traffic from Hubballi Airport and IIIT Dharwad.
According to the proposal, the road currently carries traffic exceeding 10,000 Passenger Car Units (PCU) and several stretches have deteriorated due to heavy traffic and rain, making widening essential for smoother movement and regional economic growth.
Mr. Shettar has also sought ₹86.40 crore under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for improving nine roads in Belagavi district with a combined length of 80.33 km.
The proposed roads are stretches in Bailhongal and Belagavi taluks such as Inchal-Marakumbi, Karikatti-Inamhongal, Belawadi Cross-Sangolli, Hosur-Munavalli and Desur-Nadihalli-Kukadolli Road, among others.
The MP stated that many of these roads have been damaged due to heavy rain and traffic, affecting smooth vehicular movement and local connectivity.
The proposed road improvement works in Belagavi district are roads from Inchal to Marakumbi 4.50 km, Muga Basava Cross Sutagatti-Ittanagi 11 km, Karikatti to Inamhongal 13.90 km, Belawadi Cross to Sangolli 3.35 km, Hosur to Munavalli 25.02 km, Chivatagundi Cross to Chivatagundi 2.80 km, Desur-Nadihalli-Kukadolli Road 11.80 km, Bijagarni-Kavalewadi-Janewadi-Karle-Bahaddurwadi-Kiniye (connecting to State Highway 54) 6.46 km and Ranakunde Village to Goa Road 1.50 km.
They include a total length of 80.33 km and have an estimated cost of ₹86.40 crore.
Mr. Shettar has also submitted a proposal seeking ₹59.13 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund for a Women’s Safety Initiative in the NWRTC.
The project aims to create a safe environment for women passengers by installing security and monitoring systems in nearly 1,000 buses, bus stations, depots, workshops and divisional offices operated by the transport corporation.
Another proposal includes ₹29.396 crore for implementing a Vehicle Tracking Management System (VTMS) across NWRTC’s fleet of nearly 5,500 buses. The project will be implemented under the Central assistance scheme for strengthening Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in public transport.
The funding pattern proposed includes 70% support from the Central government and 30% from NWKRTC or the State government. A release from Mr. Shettar’s office said that the Minister responded positively to the requests.
Published – March 15, 2026 07:18 pm IST
