Funds released to upgrade NH-218: Joshi

HUBBALLI: The Union government has sanctioned Rs 470 crore for the widening and upgrading of Hubballi-Vijayapura National Highway-218.
Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi said that tender process has started for the project. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has been invited for the “bhoomi pooja”, said Joshi.“The state government has to submit a proposal to construct underpasses at Shiggavi, Kunimallihalli and Varur on the Pune-Bengaluru Road,” he added.
Joshi said that he has discussed the issue of widening Hubballi-Dharwad bypass road with Ashok Kheny, mentor of Nandi Infrastructure. “Kheny has submitted a demand of Rs 325 crore. We have suggested the state government to submit a proposal and start the land acquisition process,” he said.
Reacting to Siddaramaiah’s call for a “BJP-free state”, Joshi said that the chief minister has failed in providing good governance to people. “The CM is unaware that state is becoming Congress-free and it is being openly expressed by speaker Kagodu Timmappa and senior Congressman SM Krishna. However, he is trying to divide the state on the basis of caste,” he said.
Joshi called for the need to appoint a full-time HDMC commissioner. He said that sitting commissioner CM Noor Mansoor is focusing on his responsibility as managing director for Hubli-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transport System project. “If the government is not in position to appoint a full-pledged commissioner, it should admit it openly so that people and elected representatives stop the demand,” Joshi said.