The planned hunger strike by former corporator Vinayak Gunjatkar over the poor condition of the Third Railway Gate Over Bridge in Tilakwadi, Belagavi, was withdrawn on Thursday before it could begin. The move came after Mayor Mangesh Pawar and local MLAs assured that the damaged road would be repaired on priority.
The bridge stretch has been left hazardous, with asphalt removed and deep cracks making it unsafe for commuters. Despite repeated appeals, no action had been taken, leading Gunjatkar, along with citizens and fellow leaders, to announce a hunger strike. Preparations for the protest, including display boards, had already been set up.
On Thursday morning, Mayor Pawar, Deputy Mayor Vani Joshi, and Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borse met the protestors. Gunjatkar criticized the neglect of the bridge road and the administration’s focus on the Fourth Railway Gate underpass. A formal demand for urgent repairs was also submitted.
Mayor Pawar promised that repair work would commence immediately, while Commissioner Borse assured close follow-up. Later, local MLAs released a video message stating that within 2–3 days, the road would be fixed with either wet mix or hot mix.
“Based on these assurances, we are suspending the hunger strike,” declared former corporators Vinayak Gunjatkar, Motesh Bardeshkar, Sagar Mutkekar, and Anil Chougule in a joint statement.
Thus, the much-discussed hunger strike ended before it began, leaving authorities under pressure to fulfill their commitment of quick repairs.
