Five companies have demonstrated interest in formulating a new master plan for Belgaum, as indicated by the Belgaum Urban Development Authority (BUDA), which initiated a tender process to award the contract for this crucial assignment. Presently, there are reports that five tenders have been submitted, and the technical verification phase is currently in progress.
The master plan’s scope extends beyond the city of Belgaum to encompass 55 villages in the taluka. On October 21, BUDA released a tender valued at Rs 1 crore 80 lakh to award the contract for this substantial endeavor. Originally scheduled to conclude in November, the tender process saw some timeline adjustments. The deadline for tender submissions was extended to November 27, with the opening of technical tenders rescheduled for November 28. Owing to the ongoing legislative session, BUDA officials are currently engaged in their official duties.
The previously approved master plan from 2014 expired on March 31, 2021. With no replacement in place, the old plan remains effective. The process of crafting a new master plan commenced in 2020, initially entrusted to the EGIS Company. However, the state government later revoked their contract, leading to a change in responsibility for the master plan to a different contractor.
It is crucial to note that the verification process is still in progress and will conclude after the legislative session concludes. BUDA will meticulously assess the most competitive tender among the eligible bids to select the contractor for this pivotal task. Information from the BUDA office suggests that the contractor will be chosen by December.
The current master plan of Belgaum covers 27 villages, including the city itself. However, BUDA recently expanded its jurisdiction to encompass an additional 28 villages in the taluka. Consequently, the total number of villages within the BUDA area has increased to 55, encompassing Belgaum.
This expansion may potentially introduce delays in the master plan preparation. Notably, BUDA had previously successfully formulated a master plan for the 27 villages and Belgaum city within its initial jurisdiction.
