If everything goes according to plan, people can move around Belagavi City on boats by the end of 2021.
Belagavi City Corporation (BCC), the irrigation department and the local MLA have been working relentless ly to build this intra-city water transport service to connect 12 areas. The governorment will use the water channels flowing across the city. There are three major water channels (nala) inside the city which have been croached over a period of time. The original width of these channels were 60-70 foot before various infrastructure projects swallowed the spaces. According to some estimation currently the width has been cut down to 10-15 foot.
In Early June A Meeting be- tween Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil and Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited was held to discuss the plan. The MLA is keen on including the irrigation department as water is sourced from channels.
In the first phase, the government is mulling over developing 1.5 km of Jakkeri Nala at the estimated cost of Rs.15 crore. Chief engineer, KNNL (North). Aravind Kan- girl talking to YOU said Nagari corporation and other Oy Nala, Jakkeri Nala and Balla- ri Nala are the three major channels which can be utilisedb for Transit.
Aravind said these channels comes under BCC, but if currently the irrigation department funds it, NNL Will be executing modernisation works of channels to facilitate movement of boats.
Docking, passenger waiting spaces and many other infrastructure is needed to be set up for the same. Depending upon funds and scope of work, irrigation department can work. He added that once the funds start flowing, DPR will be readied by a consultant agency.
Speaking to TOI, Abhay Patil said he has directed the corporation and other Govt bodies to carry out a survey on the extent of en croachment and prepare a new map. “Around 10,000 houses will be coming along Jakkeri Nala,” he added.
After completion, In the second phase another 1.5 km stretch of Nagjari Nala will see development to host boats. The 3km transit connects areas such as Nityanand Nagar, Godse Wadi, Chougule Wadi, Ayodhya Nagar, SV Colony, Shanti Colony, Maratha Colony, Jakkeri Honda, Shastri Nagar, Kapileshwar Colony, Mahadwar road.
Source : Times of India
