Govt extends the term of UDA presidents

Hubballi: The aspirants who are trying and lobbying hard to be the next chairman/president of urban development authorities in their respective districts have to halt their efforts for some time, as the govt has decided to continue the existing heads until further orders.Many candidates are in the race to head Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority, as well as UDAs in Ballari, Chitradurga, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Haveri, Mangaluru, Shimogga, Gadag-Betageri, Chikkaballapur, and Hosapete. Candidates have been lobbying hard to secure the position of president in theseUDAs by using the influence of ministers, MLAs, and other influential contacts within the govt. The govt appointed chairpersons/presidents in 2024 for two years, and the term of the existing chairperson/president ended on Feb 28, 2026. Two months before the end of the term, aspirants had started intense lobbying in their respective districts.However, the govt has halted the process of appointing the new presidents and issued a fresh order stating that the existing presidents of these authorities will continue in their positions until further orders. The fresh order by the govt has halted lobbying and has also gave an opportunity to the existing presidents to complete their pending projects.Shakir Sanadi, president, Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority, told TOI that the govt communicated through its fresh order dated Feb 27, 2026 that the existing presidents in Huda, and other districts including Ballari, Chitradurga, Hospet, Belagavi, Gadag, and Haveri, etc, will continue in their positions until further orders by the govt.He said that the term extension is going to help him complete the implementation of the master plan. "I am planning to implement the new revised master plan in the twin cities. We have also rectified the loopholes in the old master plan," he said."We are giving thrust to provide certain areas for IT growth, certain areas for large plots, to create affordable sites, and certain land for town planning purposes in the proposed master plan. We are also planning to develop 60 ft, 80ft, and 100ft roads in the main areas in the city to avoid increasing traffic congestion," he said."We got additional time to complete our remaining works until further orders," he added.