9 hours ago
Byadagi chilli market faces poor road conditions despite high revenue
Haveri: Byadagi, home to a prominent international chilli market, struggles with substandard roads unfit even for a walk. Despite generating an annual turnover above Rs 3,000 crore and being Asia's second-largest market, an 800-metre stretch of the town's main thoroughfare contains over 300 large potholes.
The road connecting Pandurang Movie Theatre to SJJM School has irked local residents and motorists due to its bad condition.
The market serves as a vital employment hub, supporting 8,000 individuals directly and indirectly, while generating substantial tax revenue. Nevertheless, consecutive govts have failed to deliver essential infrastructure, especially adequate roadways. Town residents have launched more than 100 protests advocating for the expansion and improvement of Byadagi's main road, highlighting the deplorable road conditions to officials.
Despite legal challenges and substantial market profits, both Congress and the BJP administrations overlooked basic infrastructure needs.
A fresh indefinite protest movement has commenced, with demonstrators determined to achieve a resolution. Monday marked the fifth day of successful protests, garnering support from various organisations. DC Vijay Mahantesh Danammanavar and SP Anshu Kumar visited to negotiate with protesters, who remained unconvinced.
Demonstrators expressed their frustration by conducting a buffalo-showering demonstration to protest the delayed road development.
"The town has been witnessing more than 500 goods vehicles twice every week during chilli season. These are across the state and Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and other states for chilli business purposes. The market has more than Rs 3,000 crore turnover every year, but we did not succeed in getting better roads in Byadagi town even after 10 years of continuous struggle.
Some people who are against development are using the legal fight as a hurdle to widening this main road," expressed Kiran Kumar ML, a businessman in Byadagi.
Shivanand Mallanagoudra, another local businessman, expressed disappointment that despite numerous demonstrations, proper infrastructure remains elusive. The govt's failure to address road widening requests persists as a longstanding grievance. Additionally, numerous town roads remain in poor condition, with ongoing UGD works spanning five years.
Commuters face difficulties in reaching destinations, while heavy traffic on deteriorating roads poses problems.
The decade-long struggle has left business owners disheartened.
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As the Byadagi main road issue is currently before high court, legal proceedings are expected to take a minimum of four months to resolve. Considering this timeline, I have appealed to the demonstrators to cease their protest activities and collaborate with the district authorities to facilitate the road development project -Vijay Mahantesh Danammanavar, Haveri DC
