Outraged residents hailing from Jamboti and Kankumbi regions have vowed to escalate their protest against the apparent negligence of authorities regarding the repair and upgrade of the Belagavi-Goa road via Chorla. This resolution emerged during a meeting convened in Jamboti, where leaders from diverse villages and various associations congregated.
“Our strategy involves rallying robust public support by engaging every gram panchayat in the Jamboti-Kankumbi vicinity. We stand united, resolute in holding the authorities accountable until the road is diligently rehabilitated,” emphasized activist Kiran Gaude. “If our pleas fall on deaf ears, we won’t hesitate to stage an agitation, including potential road blockades,” he affirmed.
Conversely, NHAI officials have announced that interim repairs on the road have commenced, pending the eventual construction of a lasting solution. Initially designated as 748AA, the Belagavi-Chorla thoroughfare attained national highway status in 2021 after being handed over to NHAI by Karnataka PWD.
Addressing the matter, Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil disclosed a forthcoming proposal for the construction of a concrete road, forwarded to NHAI headquarters. Elaborating further, NHAI Project Director Bhuvanesh Kumar expounded on the updated approach due to previous forest department constraints on the initial 2-laning proposal.
“In collaboration with local authorities, we’ve formulated a renewed Rs 90 crore proposal. This envisions a 44-km cement road from Kinaye village near Belagavi, extending to the Chorla border. The road width will be upheld at its current 5.5-meter dimension within the reserved forest area,” Kumar detailed.
He further conveyed that the contractor responsible for the May repairs has been instructed to uphold those fixes at their own expense. “Moreover, I’ve directed the contractor to rectify any additional stretches that require attention, with the associated expenses borne by NHAI,” he confirmed.
Nevertheless, the suffering of commuters endures, given that this route, the shortest between Belagavi and Goa, continues to be a source of dismay.
