'2nd phase CRF road works in twin cities approved'

Terming the grants under the Central Road Fund (CRF) as the right of the State Government, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister H C Mahadevappa stated that he has already approved 19 road works in the twin cities, worth around Rs 200 crore, under the the second phase of the CRF.

Speaking after performing Bhoomi Pooja for the development of Tender SURE road from Arts College Circle in Vidyanagar to Tolanakere via Shirur Park here on Wednesday, he noted that the CRF grants are the tax amount collected on fuel consumption in the State, reimbursed to the State Government by the Union Government.

The Union Government has in principle approved to upgrade around 6,000 kms of roads in the State into national highways, and with that, the State would have 14,000 kms of national highways. In last four-and-a-half years, the State Government has developed 31,000 kms of core road network covering all Assembly segments, without any political discrimination, he said.

Earlier, the PWD had sanctioned Rs seven crore for the development of 2.2 km long Shirur Park road. Later, the government accepted the constructive suggestion by the Opposition, and approved Rs 35 crore Tender SURE work on this stretch. Hubballi-Dharwad BRTS Company Limited is contributing Rs eight crore for this project. It shows how a long-lasting and modern work can be taken up if leaders of all political parties work together. Gokul Road is also being concretised at a cost f Rs 27 crore, Mr Mahadevappa noted, adding that Hubballi-Dharwad should also develop on the lines of Bengaluru and Mysuru.

'Call tenders'

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar urged Mr Mahadevappa to start the tender process for around Rs 200 crore worth road development works under the CRF, as works only worth Rs 150 crore are taken up so far. He also sought funds to develop a road connecting Tolanakere to airport, as a parallel road to Gokul Road.

"We will pressurise Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to approve the DPR forwarded by the State Government on the proposal to construct flyovers at Chennamma Circle and Jubilee Circle in Dharwad, and to provide additional funds required," Mr Shettar added.  

MLC Basavaraj Horatti lamented that all political parties are concentrating on the development of Bengaluru alone, where only 23% of residents are Kannadigas.

Like people's representatives of Old Mysuru region, elected representatives in this region also should make united efforts and should forget politics while taking up development works, he said, stressing the need to complete BRTS project implementation fast.

'Future road'

Jana Urban Space Foundation co-founder Swati Ramanathan, who provided designs for the project, stated that Tender SURE road would prevent repeated road digging for utility line laying or repairing, but people have to tolerate the inconvenience for one year of implementation period. Both BJP and Congress governments have shown the will to implement Tender SURE roads in Bengaluru, without any politics, she added.

District In-chanrge Minister Vinay Kulkarni, and Corporator Mahesh Burli also spoke. Mayor D K Chavan, MLA Aravind Bellad, MLC Pradeep Shettar, Karnataka Balavikas Academy Chairman Vedavyas Kaulagi, NWKRTC Chairman Sadanand Danganavar, and others were present.

H C Mahadevappa, Jagadish Shettar and Swati Ramanathan were felicitated on the occasion.