HUBBALLI: Two major projects — the golden quadrilateral (GQ) and the South Western Railway zone — initiated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his tenure as Prime Minister, fuelled growth and changed the face of towns and cities in the state.BJP claims Tumukuru, Chitradurga, Davangere, Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi have immensely benefited from the 600km NH4 stretch from Bengaluru to Belagavi. Hoardings with Vajpayee’s picture were erected along the highway till the UPA I government had it removed.“It made for quicker travel between major cities and ports and connected major industrial centres, ensuring smooth movement of goods,” said Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi and BJP MLA Aravind Bellad. “It enabled industrial development and job creation in smaller towns. Now, farmers too can transport their produce to major cities and towns quickly.”The foundation stone for South Western Railway zone with Hubballi as its headquarters was also laid by Vajpayee in 2003 after a hue and cry. Hubballi had staked its claim for the headquarters in the early 90s, but the HD Deve Gowda government, in 1996 attempted to make Bangaluru the zonal headquarters. However, the BJP regime under Vajpayee changed the zonal headquarters to Hubballi, heralding a new chapter in the history of North Karnataka. People in North Karnataka still remember the former PM’s gift.“Vajpayee was set to lay foundation stone for the zonal headquarters in Hubballi, but some people went to court and obtained a stay,” said former BJP MLA Chandrakant Bellad. “The Railway Board did not file an appeal. Some local representatives led by Vijay Sankeshwar met Vajapyee in New Delhi seeking his intervention. He immediately instructed the Railway Board to file an appeal.”Bellad went on to say, “Vajpayee also played a crucial role in allowing Karnataka increase the height of the Almatti dam and helped develop village roads in North Karnataka through his flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.”

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