JOIN USThe State Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed to spend an additional Rs 40 crore on tightening security at the Rs 391-crore Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum, the State’s second secretariat.
The department has proposed to establish direct and exclusive road connectivity between the secretariat and Belgaum airport, replace the existing metal fencing around the compound with a wall and lay a new road along the compound wall, besides installing scanners on all four entrances.
The PWD recently submitted the proposal to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), Bangalore, for its approval. The proposal has been prepared in consultation with the Belgaum police.
“The proposal is pending before the DPAR. The police said it will be difficult to hold the Legislature session if steps are not taken to ensure safety,” said PWD chief engineer (north division) O K Swamy.
Suvarna Soudha was built to hold winter sessions and send a message to pro-Marathi organisations that Belgaum was an integral part of Karnataka.
Except for holding the session for a brief period, the secretariat, which is more of a replica of the Vidhana Soudha here, has remained largely unutilised.
Its maintenance has turned out to be a big burden, with the government spending close to Rs three crore every year.
The government is planning to hold a 10-day session at Suvarna Soudha from November 25.
Swamy said it is located outside Belgaum city off the Bangalore-Pune national highway (NH-4), which is the only access to the secretariat. This has led to traffic jams on the highway, especially when the Legislature is in session.
The police have suggested that upgrading a major district road close to the secretariat and connecting it to the airport as a possible solution.
The police also want to build a road along the compound to conduct patrolling easily and effectively.