Belagavi BJP MP Jagadish Shettar met Union Minister for Roads and Highways Nitin Gadkari’s New Delhi to raise additional ₹900 crore for road development, women safety and modernization. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Belagavi BJP MP Jagadish Shettar sought additional funds of around ₹900 crore for road development, women’s safety and modernization.
Mr. Shettar met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Saturday.
He submitted letters requesting central financial assistance for several infrastructure and public transport initiatives in the 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 asked the minister to approve funds for more projects aimed at improving road connectivity and public transport safety in his Belagavi parliamentary constituency.
One of the major proposals needs ₹750 crore to widen and improve 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, Savadatti Yallamma Temple and Gokak Falls, besides being connected to National Highway 4 and National Highway 748 and serving traffic from Hubballi Airport and IIIT Dharwad.
As designed, the road currently carries more than 10,000 passenger car units (PCUs) and several sections have deteriorated due to heavy traffic and rain, making the expansion necessary for smoother movement and regional economic growth.
Mr. Shettar also requested ₹86.40 crore under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for the improvement of nine roads in Belagavi district with a total 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 said that many of these roads were damaged due to heavy rain and traffic, which affected the smooth movement of vehicles and local connectivity.
The proposed road improvement works in Belagavi district are 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, Chivadigun to Chivatavata 02 km. Desur-Nadihalli-Kukadolli road 11.80 km, Bijagarni-Kavalewadi-Janewadi-Karle-Bahaddurwadi-Kiniye (connecting to National Highway 54) 6.46 km and Ranakunde village on Goa road 1.50 km.
They cover a total length of 80.33 km and have an estimated cost of ₹ 86.40 crore.
Mr. Shettar also submitted a proposal to raise ₹ 59.13 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund for the Women’s Safety Initiative at 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 company.
Another proposal includes ₹29.396 crore to implement Vehicle Tracking Management System (VTMS) across NWRTC’s fleet of nearly 5,500 buses. The project will be implemented within the framework of the central assistance system for strengthening intelligent transport systems (ITS) in public transport.
The proposed funding model includes 70% support from the central government and 30% from the NWKRTC or the state government. A statement from Mr. Shettar’s office said the minister responded positively to the requests.
Published – 15 March 2026 19:18 IST
