Belgaum: The "Belgavi Navanirmana Vedike," which was formed three months ago to work for the improvement of civic amenities in the city, has drawn attention of the State Government to the poor condition of the roads in the city.

The roads are in a bad condition providing a nightmarish experience to road users, irrespective of whether one is walking or driving. Added to these problems are the choked drainage lines causing health hazards. The plight of people living in slums and low-lying areas is pitiable with the areas getting waterlogged frequently with no proper outlets.

The Belgaum City Corporation has listed 16 major roads, a bridge and a drain which are in bad shape and forwarded a proposal to the Government seeking a sanction of Rs. 5 crores for taking up improvement works under the head of flood damage improvement.

Though all the roads are in bad shape, the KLE Hospital Road, D.C. Office to Central Bus Stand road, Congress Road (Belgaum-Goa road), Old Dharwad Road, CBS to College Road via Khadebazaar and Samadevi Galli, and roads emerging from RTO Circle, Kolhapur Circle, Channamma Circle, Bogarves, Goaves, First and Second Railway gates in Tilakwadi are in bad condition.

The Government has sanctioned Rs. 3 crores for road improvement works.

The works will be carried out through the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

The district administration has been blaming incessant rain for the bad condition of roads. But, the Vedike and experts do not agree with the administration's view.

Vedike president M. Nagaraju and secretary Ramakant Nayak said that the condition of roads deteriorated because of poor quality of work and not because of rain.

To begin with, the Vedike collected signatures of more than 1,000 individuals, including doctors, engineers, businessmen, motor-vehicle owners, students in a few hours, all of whom agree that the city corporation is a "burden" on the tax-payers' pocket.

The Vedike has decided to approach the High Court to pass directions to the Government to respond to the people's problems and ensure proper quality while implementing road works. The option of flooding the corporation with claims for compensation for the damages caused to vehicles and health of individuals is also open, Mr. Nagaraju said.

"What we want is proper basic infrastructure facilities such as roads and drainage. " he said.

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