The Belagavi Urban Development Authority (BUDA) recently approved the expansion of the city by incorporating 28 neighboring villages. This decision was reached during a meeting of government officials, ministers, and legislators. They also sanctioned the development of a master plan using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology for the expanded urban area. This larger urban region will encompass various villages and towns within the Local Planning Area.
Public Works Minister and district in-charge Satish Jarkiholi confirmed that work on these initiatives will commence shortly. BUDA officials will collaborate with state government officials and experts from various fields, including GIS mapping, urban planning, watershed management, transportation, and waste disposal.
BUDA Commissioner Shakeel Ahmed mentioned that the existing master plan has expired, and they plan to extend the old plan until the new one is implemented. The Minister emphasized the importance of providing necessary infrastructure and amenities to residential layouts in Belagavi city.
During a meeting involving district administration officials, BUDA, and the city corporation, the Minister stressed the need to strictly enforce rules requiring the creation of roads, drains, parks, and other civic amenities in residential layouts in the city and surrounding areas. Preventing illegal settlements and ensuring that layout developers adhere to established rules were also emphasized. Approvals should only be granted following field inspections and document verification.
The Minister also instructed officials to prepare and disclose pricing and allotment details for existing open plots. Feedback on the rules followed during e-auctions and manual auctions of plots was sought, and officials were directed to identify land for a new sports stadium in the city.
Minister for Woman and Child Development Lakshmi Hebbalkar urged officials to construct a stadium with a seating capacity of one lakh people, emphasizing the need to identify sufficient land for this purpose. She also emphasized the importance of thorough inspections before approving new residential layouts and strict adherence to rules.
Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil disclosed that ₹87 crore has been allocated for the development of the new Kanabargi residential layout. In addition to Smart City initiatives, ₹9 crore is available for other development projects.
Rajya Sabha member Eranna Kadadi, MLAs Abhay Patil, Vithal Halagekar, and Asif (Raju) Sait, City Corporation Commissioner Ashok Dudgunti, and other officials attended the meeting.
