The long-delayed master plan for Belagavi city and its adjoining 55 villages, intended to guide development over the next 20 years, may soon move forward. Fresh progress has been reported after two bids were received in the latest re-tender floated by the Belagavi Urban Development Authority (Buda). The earlier contract had been cancelled when the selected firm failed to deposit the mandatory security amount within the prescribed timeframe. Despite issuing a notice, Buda received no response from the contractor and was compelled to terminate the agreement and restart the process.
The authority has now called for fresh tenders to prepare a GIS-based master plan at an estimated cost of Rs 1.9 crore, with a 15-month deadline for completion. Two bids were submitted before the closing date. Officials stated that both proposals will undergo technical scrutiny, and only those fulfilling eligibility conditions will advance to the next stage. Financial bids will then be opened to determine the lowest qualified bidder.
If no further hurdles arise, Buda is likely to finalise the contractor soon. The existing master plan for Belagavi expired in March 2021. In 2020, under the Amrut scheme, the project was awarded to EGIS, but the contract was later terminated due to a dispute over bill payments. The urban development department subsequently handed over the responsibility to Buda. Two earlier tender attempts failed, and although a contractor was chosen in the third round, the agreement was cancelled after the firm did not pay the security deposit.
The proposed master plan will encompass Belagavi city and 55 nearby villages, detailing residential, commercial and industrial zones, road and transport networks, environmental protections, public facilities and industrial corridors for the next two decades. It will also demarcate village boundaries and specify land-use patterns. In the absence of a valid master plan, decisions regarding urban growth and zoning remain unclear. Stakeholders are now closely monitoring whether the tender process concludes smoothly and the long-awaited plan is delivered within the stipulated timeline.
