The long-closed stretch in front of Shiv Srushti at Shahapur, caught in a ₹20 crore compensation dispute, is set to reopen shortly. However, only 40 feet of the originally planned 80-foot road will be made accessible to the public.
For the past two days, teams from the Belagavi City Corporation and the Land Records Department have been conducting surveys to realign the route as per the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) and the private layout sanctioned in 1976. The move follows citizen appeals to District Guardian Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who intervened to resolve the long-pending issue.
Municipal officials said the northern 40 feet of the road will be opened for vehicular movement, which is expected to ease heavy traffic in the Shahapur area.
Initially developed under the Smart City Project, the road was closed last year after a High Court directive. Landowners had approached the court, claiming their property was used without formal acquisition. The Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court ordered the City Corporation to compensate them with ₹20 crore. When the payment was not made, the owners filed a contempt petition.
During the 2024 hearing, then Municipal Commissioner Ashok Dudgunti appeared before the court. Subsequently, the Corporation decided to return the land instead of paying compensation, as approved in its general body meeting. The land was officially handed back to the owners in September 2024, leading to the immediate closure of the road.
Several proposals, including offering Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and filing a Public Interest Litigation, failed to make headway. The latest decision to reopen a 40-foot section was taken after officials confirmed it aligns with the CDP and does not breach court directives.
Municipal Commissioner Shubha B. has initiated the reopening process at the direction of Minister Jarkiholi. Once the survey concludes, the new alignment will be finalised and formally notified.
The move is expected to provide significant relief to commuters while settling a long-standing urban planning dispute in Shahapur.
