Officials said the project is expected to be completed in a couple of weeks, subject to weather conditions. Hubballi: The long-pending demand for a designated auto stand near Hubballi Airport has finally received approval, with the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) set to begin construction within a week.
The Rs 6-crore project aims to create a dedicated space for autorickshaws operating near the airport. The facility has been a key demand of the Auto Drivers and Owners Association since 2011. Shekharayya Mathapati, president of the Uttar Karnataka Auto Chalakar Sangh, said that despite receiving approval in the RTA meeting, the proposed stand could not be established due to technical hurdles involving the HDMC and the transport department.
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“After we approached Union minister Pralhad Joshi, the issue was resolved,” he said. HDMC official Manjunath Doddawad said the project would be taken up on a priority basis once work begins. “If weather conditions remain favourable, the auto stand should be ready within a couple of weeks,” he added.
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HDMC will begin work shortly and is targeting completion within two weeks of commencement, according to officials. However, continuous rainfall could affect the schedule and delay completion. Members of the association have repeatedly raised the issue over the years, citing the need for an organised auto stand to streamline operations and regulate the movement of autorickshaws near the airport. During the tenure of former Dharwad DC Deepa Cholan, approval was granted for five auto stands at various locations, including the airport and railway station, during a regional transport authority (RTA) meeting. However, the airport auto stand remained pending.