To

Shri V Sadanand Gowda

Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka

Government of Karnataka,

Camp Belgaum

Respected Chief Minister,

The Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Belgaum was established in the year 1966. This institution, since inception has relentlessly strived hard for the development of the Trade & Industrial fraternity and citizens of the district for the last 46 years. It is engaged in interacting with them and identifying the key development issues and takes it to an logical end with the concerned agency. The experience is then shared with the associate chambers of FKCCI in the state and co-ordinate with various government agencies, civic bodies to resolve the issues. The Chamber and its Members, in particular, liaison with the Central & State Government Departments, help the Government to formulate and implement many of its public oriented future policies, plans & projects, etc.

Over the years it is observed that the City of Belgaum has not grown to the extent its neighbouring towns have, even though it can boast of as the second largest exporting City in the State. Reasons could be many and it is not our intention to deliberate on the same but to seek your help to resolve them for the benefit of the business community.

It's the Chambers endeavor to ensure a steady growth of the district through development of required infra-structural facilities. Our effort through this communication is to bring some of the key issues to your kind attention with a humble request to your good self to use your good offices, to find mutually acceptable solutions to the issues hanging fire for quite some time.

We, therefore, very earnestly request you, Sir; to please spare some time to study the following gist to familiarizes your good self with the ground realities;

The key issues which need your immediate attentions are highlighted herein under;

A. RAIL SERVICES

We need special trains to connect Belgaum with Bangalore and Mumbai at a convenient time schedule for the business community.

The speed of the trains operating on the Belgaum- Hubli – Belgaum needs to be increased to reduce the travel time from present 3.5 to 4 Hours to around two hours. Moreover, two way tracks should be laid to reduce the traffic density, stagnation of slow trains due to crossings etc. The reduction of travel time will certainly increase the density of passengers multifold on this section.

B. AIR SERVICES

Belgaum airport was the first in the state after Bangalore. However, it has not been live up to its status. The air services have crippled once again due to financial and administrative crisis of King Fisher airlines. The State Govt. must use its good offices to restore the air services to Bangalore and Mumbai, Air India may be the answer

C. FOUR LANES ROAD FROM THE THIRD RAILWAY GATE TO VISWESHWARAIAH TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (V. T. U.) AND DHARWAD ROAD

The vehicular traffic on both these roads has increased multi-fold in the last decade and records at least one fatal accident every fortnight. The subject of widening both these roads is discussed at every possible occasion and forum. It is confirmed that the budget for the same is approved and the implementation of the project of converting the road from Third Railway Gate to V. T. U. and Dharwad Road into a four lanes road has now to be commenced.

D. RING ROAD

A few years ago the construction of a Ring Road on the peripheral of the City of Belgaum was being discussed and some breakthrough was made. For last few years it seems that the subject is sidelined. Having a Ring Road is an urgent need of the hour to reduce the traffic density and improve safety on the City roads.

E. MULTIFACED WATER PROBLEMS IN THE INDUSTRIAL   ESTATES i.e. AD HOCK AND EXHORBITANT WATER TARRIFS, NON INSTALLATION OF WATER METERS AND STOPPAGE OF WATER SUPPLY

F. REDUCTION OF VAT (KST) ON DIESEL AND PETROL

G. SELF ASSESSMENT SCHEME: SAS

FOR PROPERTY TAX FOR Bangalore has been a vexed issue from the year 2003. Belgaum Chamber of Commerce has given representations to Govt. and the concerned authorities to simplify the tax structure, similar to the one that is followed by the Brihat Bangalore Palike from the year 2000 to 2010. We humbly appeal to you to instruct the concerned agencies to initiate necessary steps relieve the tax payers of unnecessary anxieties.

H. MORE POLICE STATIONS TO HANDLE LAW & ORDER AND CRIMES MENACE

 

I. INDUSTRIAL TOWNSHIP

J. UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY

K. DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM

L. ENHANCED FLOOR SPACE INDEX (FSI) FOR CONSTRUCTION  ACTIVITY

M. FREQUENCY MODULATION (FM) RADIO STATION IS REQUIRED

Sir, we earnestly request you to ponder over the above issues and initiate necessary corrective actions. We  are confident that it will transform the City into a much better place to live-in,  giving the Traders and the Industrialists an opportunity to compete in the commercial world using the best infrastructure made available by the Government through your dedicated personal efforts.

With Warm Regards,

Yours sincerely,