DC sets deadline for bus terminal project

Belagavi: After taking stock of ongoing work on the central bus terminal in the city, Belagavi deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil on Monday directed the Belagavi Smart City Ltd (BSCL) officials to complete the project at the earliest. The DC reminded the officials that they had already missed the deadline for the project, for which then chief minister Siddaramaiah had laid the foundation as far back as 2016.
Siddaramaiah had released funds to the tune of Rs 30 crore towards the reconstruction of the Belagavi Central Bus Terminus, work on which was scheduled to be completed in 2018. However, four years have elapsed since the original deadline but authorities continue to drag their feet on the project.
BSCL managing director Praveen Bagewadi informed the DC that work on the bus terminal had been delayed owing to problems in acquisition of land. “But work is proceeding apace, and the two-floor building of the terminus is near completion. The remaining work will be completed in quick time,” Bagewadi said.
Patil, on the other hand, instructed Bagewadi to ensure that work on the terminus was completed before December 2022. The BSCL MD assured the DC that, the legal dispute over the property, which had held up work for eight months, having been resolved, work on the terminus would be completed by December.
The DC then inspected ongoing work on the Kalamandir at Tilakwadi, a project being executed at an estimated cost of Rs 46 crore. When Patil instructed the BSCL MD to ensure completion of the project by December, Bagewadi informed the former that there was a stay order issued by the court. “We will resume work on the structure once the stay is vacated,” Bagewadi said.
The DC also took stock of work on installation of pavers on the road to the GST office in the city, instructing the authorities to ensure that there was no compromise on quality. BSCL chief engineer Chandrashekhar was among those who accompanied the DC.