Belagavi Smart City or City in Crisis? Tilakwadi Bridge Sparks Fury”
Temples, Students, Livelihoods: Who Will Save Tilakwadi from the Overbridge?”
“Tilakwadi Showdown: Elevated Track Demand vs Risky Overbridge Plan”
Smart City’s Blind Spot: Why Belagavi Locals Reject Tilakwadi Overbridge
e belagavi special
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Belagavi.
In the so-called “Smart City” of Belagavi, certain development projects undertaken in the name of progress are in fact disrupting the very lives of citizens. One such project — the construction of a railway overbridge at Tilakwadi’s Second Railway Gate (LC-382) — has sparked a major controversy in the city, drawing sharp opposition from residents.
The construction of this overbridge not only threatens daily life but also raises serious concerns about the future of nearly 6,000 students and the survival of three Hindu temples located nearby. This has triggered widespread anxiety among the people.
On the 15th, Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna will be visiting Belagavi to lay the foundation stone for a road underpass at Anagol Gate (LC-380). During the same trip, he is also expected to visit Tilakwadi’s Second Gate. Local residents have prepared a memorandum to present to the minister, highlighting the problems caused by the overbridge project.
6,000 Students’ Future at Stake!
The construction of the ROB at Tilakwadi endangers the daily commute of over 6,000 students from seven schools and ten nurseries in the area.
The narrow and poorly designed overbridge is considered unsafe for children, parents, and cyclists. Parents are expressing deep concern:
> “Where is the assurance that our children will reach school safely? If the ROB comes up, the commute itself could turn into a tragedy,” said one anxious mother.
Temples Under Threat
The proposed ROB at Tilakwadi’s Second Gate is feared to directly impact the century-old Ganesh and Hanuman temples in the locality. Worshippers worry that the sanctity of the temples will be compromised, with devotees forced to pray amidst vehicular smoke and noise pollution.
Citizens point out that in many other parts of the country, when places of worship fall within road projects, authorities have altered the designs to protect them. But here, the BJP-led central government’s silence on safeguarding Hindu temples has hurt the sentiments of devotees.
People are openly asking: why did the government modify plans around mosques and churches, but remains unwilling to protect Hindu temples?
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Responsibility of Minister Somanna and MLA Abhay Patil
Residents insist that the onus is now on Minister V. Somanna to address these issues and provide an alternative solution. Notably,
locals have already brought the matter to the attention of Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil, who is said to have responded positively. Citizens now await decisive action.
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What’s Needed: An Elevated Track, Not Another ROB
Within a mere 2-km stretch, there are already several ROBs in operation. LC-381 and LC-383 are adequately handling traffic, making the new ROB unnecessary and unscientific, according to experts.
Instead, residents are demanding the construction of a 9-km elevated railway track as a long-term solution. They point to successful examples of this model in Kurukshetra, Nagpur, Kanpur, and the Delhi-Meerut corridor. Their memorandum to the minister clearly emphasizes this alternative.
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Cultural Threat to Temples
The ancient Ganesh and Hanuman temples of Tilakwadi face direct repercussions if the ROB goes ahead. Fears remain that temple premises could be engulfed beneath the structure, while devotees would struggle with pollution and noise.
Residents cite the example of the Kapileshwar Temple (known as the “Dakshina Kashi”), which lost much of its spiritual grandeur due to a previous ROB project. They question: why should Belagavi’s sacred temples face such repeated sacrilege?
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Economic Losses
The overbridge project is also expected to hurt local businesses, with shopkeepers facing displacement and livelihoods at risk. People also fear that, like other ROBs, the understructure may become a hub for antisocial activities.
As a result, citizens warn that Belagavi risks losing its “Smart City” reputation, instead earning the disrepute of becoming a “polluted and degraded city.
