Traffic mess chokes Belagavi despite Smart City spend

Belagavi: Belagavi is grappling with a worsening traffic and parking crisis despite spending crores of rupees under the Smart City project. The rapid rise in vehicle numbers has not been matched by proportionate infrastructure development by the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) and district administration, placing severe strain on the city’s traffic system. With civic agencies failing to respond effectively, the police department has been left to manage the growing chaos, even as congestion continues to intensify across key areas.There are over eight lakh registered vehicles under the jurisdiction of the Belagavi Regional Transport Office. For years, discussions have been held on building multi‑storey parking complexes, expanding roads and identifying alternative parking facilities. However, none of these proposals has been implemented so far.The lack of space in market areas for even a fire engine to move during emergencies underlines the seriousness of the situation. Most commercial hubs within city limits — including the Central Bus Station, Khade Bazaar, Ganapati Galli, College Road, Channamma Circle and the Railway Station area — are plagued by severe traffic congestion and parking woes. Basements and ground floors earmarked for parking are being misused for commercial activities, with allegations that the BCC has failed to crack down on such violations effectively.Commuters say parking woes are particularly acute in busy city zones. Officials maintain that action will be taken against violators who misuse basements and designated parking spaces for commercial purposes, as per the rules.Santosh, a city resident, said permissions are being granted for new commercial complexes without officials ensuring adequate parking facilities. “This forces vehicles to spill onto roads. Adding to the problem, roads are dug up for drinking water works and left unattended, leaving people stranded in traffic for hours every day,” he said.BCC commissioner Kartik M said a plan is being prepared to provide adequate parking facilities in the city.Transfer becomes certainInterestingly, officials are reluctant to take strict action against basement‑style commercial violations, fearing political pressure or public humiliation. Several officers from the local administration and police who earlier led drives against such illegal conversions were transferred out of the city. There are allegations that the then MLA from Belagavi North played a role in these transfers. Officials fear that enforcing the rules strictly could once again lead to transfers, even as the city’s traffic and parking crisis continues to worsen by the day.