Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda sharply criticized National Highways Authority of India officials on Friday. He questioned their failure to begin construction on a crucial highway stretch from Buvanahalli Junction to Goruru Bypass near Hassan city.
Minister Demands Answers for Three-Year Delay
Krishna Byre Gowda, who also serves as Hassan district minister, personally inspected the road works. He expressed strong dissatisfaction with the prolonged delay. The minister pointed out that land acquisition for the bypass widening project was fully completed three years ago.
"Why hasn't the highway widening work started even after all these years?" Gowda demanded from NHAI officials during the inspection.
Officials Blame Tree and Railway Bridges
NHAI officials reportedly cited two main obstacles for the delay. They claimed a single tree was blocking construction in one section. They also mentioned that two Railway Over Bridges were creating complications for the project.
The minister dismissed these explanations as inadequate. He suggested practical solutions to move forward with the work.
- Leave approximately 300 meters for the problematic tree
- Set aside about 1 kilometer of road for the railway bridges
- Complete the remaining 9 kilometers of highway work immediately
"You are misleading me with these excuses," Gowda told the officials directly.
Contractors Face Criticism from Local MLA
Arasikere MLA Shivalingegowda joined the criticism during the inspection. He accused contractors of not performing their duties properly. The MLA emphasized that officials needed to take their responsibilities more seriously.
Deputy Commissioner KS Latha Kumari responded to the concerns. She confirmed that whenever questioned about the delayed start, officials consistently raised the tree and ROB issues. They reported that construction could not proceed due to these obstructions.
Land Acquisition Completed in 2022
The deputy commissioner provided specific details about the project timeline. She informed Minister Gowda that land acquisition for the bypass widening work was formally completed in 2022. This confirmation highlighted how long the project has been stalled despite having all necessary land clearances.
During his inspection, Minister Gowda noticed something troubling. In some locations along the proposed route, there appeared to be superficial attempts to begin work. However, vehicles continued using the existing two-lane road without any real construction progress.
The minister expressed clear dissatisfaction with this situation. He emphasized that mere appearances of work were unacceptable when substantial progress remained absent.
Local Representatives Attend Inspection
Several key local officials participated in the inspection alongside Minister Gowda. MP Shreyas Patel attended the proceedings. ZP CEO BR Poornima was also present during the minister's review of the delayed highway project.
The gathering of multiple officials underscored the project's importance for Hassan district's infrastructure development. Their collective presence signaled serious concern about the prolonged delays affecting this crucial transportation link.
