Public Works Minister and district in-charge Satish Jarkiholi laid the foundation stone for the Patrika Bhavan at Visveswaraiah Nagar, Belagavi, on Friday.
The upcoming facility will include a hall for press conferences, seminars, and discussions, along with dedicated spaces for sports and recreation for journalists. The Minister assured that the well-equipped building will be completed within a year. He instructed Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan to ensure the construction of a compound wall, a borewell for water supply, and the provision of power to the site.
Dilip Kurundawade, district president of the Karnataka Working Journalists Union, expressed gratitude to the Minister and officials for fulfilling the long-standing 25-year demand of local journalists.
On an adjacent site, Horticulture Minister S.S. Mallikarjuna laid the foundation stone for the District Horticulture Office. He highlighted that the new facility will enhance operational efficiency and improve extension services for farmers.
The event was attended by MLAs Asif (Raju) Sait, Vishwas Vaidya, and Babasaheb Patil, along with Horticulture Secretary Shamla Iqbal, Director D.S. Ramesh, Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar S. Guled, Zilla Panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde, and other senior officials, journalists, and dignitaries.
