BELGAUM: As the Belgaum Urban Development Authority (BUDA) prepares to implement the first phase of the Ring Road project, suggestions have come in from various quarters, particularly from the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI), on certain amendments that could be made to the plan.

Under the first phase, the BUDA has proposed to construct ring road from Vengurla road to Peeranwadi junction on National Highway 4A.

This junction was also the starting point for the proposed express highway to Goa.Sources said that Chief Minsiter H.D. Kumarswamy was likely to perform bhoomi pooja to start the construction of the express highway later this month. The Government had sanctioned Rs. 65 crore for the project.

However, the BCCI has observed that Peeranwadi junction was "choked" with heavy traffic from two highways to Goa and Karwar, and from the industrial area at Machche.

In addition to these, there were many link roads to the proposed express highway, the BCCI said. Therefore, it would be convenient to skirt Peeranwadi village and industries at Machche, and link the road 2 km ahead on NH 4Aby aligning along the existing roads. Also, ring road from Khadarwadi to Peeranwadi could be avoided and taken from Khadarwadi to Hunchanhatti, where a road existed, the BCCI said. About 2.5 km of road could be constructed from south of Waghavade to Jhad Shahpur on NH4A to complete the ring road, since a broad road existed between Tirthakunde to Waghavade, it said. These modifications will decongest the industrial hubs (both existing and proposed), encircle the industrial area of Machche, Visvesvaraya Technological University; and open up huge tracts of wasteland for industrial development and establishment of the proposed Special Economic Zone.

The BCCI has also urged the State Government to construct a barrage across Mangetri Nala or a series of check dams to enhance ground water table of Waghavade village and the surrounding areas. The construction would also facilitate irrigation of agricultural lands, said the BCCI president Vikas R. Kalghatgi.

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