Forget political differences and focus on Hubballi’s development: Shankranna Munavalli

Forget political differences and focus on Hubballi's development: Shankranna Munavalli He points to inadequate parking facilities in commercial areas such as Koppikar Road, Durgad Bail, and Dajibanpeth in Hubballi, which, he notes, contributes to traffic congestion.

Key points

• Former president of the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shankranna Munavalli Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.
• He pointed to inadequate parking facilities in commercial areas such as Koppikar Road, Durgad Bail, and Dajibanpeth in Hubballi, which, he remarked, contributed to traffic congestion.
• He additionally flagged the non-functioning of lifts and escalators at the old bus stand and the lack of basic amenities at the Sub-Registrar's Office.
• "Merely calling Hubballi the second capital of Karnataka will not ensure its development, " Mr.
• He additionally welcomed efforts to develop Hubballi airport as an international airport and sought the restoration of air services under the UDAN scheme.

In practice, the former president of the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shankranna Munavalli, has pressed elected representatives to set aside political differences and work together to improve infrastructure and basic amenities in Hubballi-Dharwad.

Mr. Munavalli, who is additionally chairman of the Sri Gurusiddeshwar Co-operative Bank and former director of the KLE Society, stated in a release that Hubballi, being a major commercial and industrial centre in North Karnataka, attracted thousands of individuals every day but continued to face serious infrastructure gaps.

He pointed to inadequate parking facilities in commercial areas such as Koppikar Road, Durgad Bail, and Dajibanpeth in Hubballi, which, he remarked, contributed to traffic congestion. The city additionally needed clean and safe public toilets, particularly for women and visitors from outside the city, he stated.

Criticising the repeated digging up of roads for development and utility works, he remarked that the authorities and agencies concerned should be produced responsible for restoring roads within a fixed timeframe and to prescribed quality standards.

While alternative vending spaces were provided to protect the livelihoods of street vendors, expressing concern over footpath encroachments by street vendors, he pressed a balanced approach under which footpaths were cleared for pedestrians.

He sought the early completion of the multi-level parking facility near Kittur Channamma Circle and suggested that the old court premises near the Sai Baba Temple be considered for temporary parking, subject to legal and administrative clearances.

"Merely calling Hubballi the second capital of Karnataka will not ensure its development, " Mr. Munavalli remarked, stressing the need for a long-term master plan covering roads, public transport, parking, sanitation, and pedestrian infrastructure.

He additionally welcomed efforts to develop Hubballi airport as an international airport and sought the restoration of air services under the UDAN scheme. Mr. Munavalli pressed the State and Union governments, civic authorities, and elected representatives to coordinate their efforts to produce Hubballi a business-friendly and liveable city.

In short, forget political differences and focus on Hubballi's development: Shankranna Munavalli is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.