With the assembly session coming up, DC Mohammad Roshan and Belagavi City Corporation Commissioner Karthik inspected Kittur Rani Channamma Circle on Thursday. They checked traffic flow, frequent protests, and the general readiness of the area.
The circle is one of Belagavi’s busiest junctions, with thousands of vehicles passing every day. Officials reviewed the arrangements to make sure citizens, MLAs, Ministers, and government staff can move smoothly during the session.
Commissioner Karthik said that the administration and police will soon discuss a proposal to completely ban protests and rallies at Channamma Circle. Because crowds have become larger and traffic has worsened, the area often gets blocked during agitations.
Senior officials, including SP Dr. Bhima Shankar Guled and BCC Deputy Commissioner Lakshmi Nippanikar, were also present.
Why the Change Is Being Considered
Channamma Circle has become the regular protest spot for many groups. While everyone has the right to protest, these gatherings often disrupt daily life:
Ambulances get stuck in long traffic jams
Students reach school late
Employees face delays
Important roads like Rayanna Circle, Y-Junction, and College Road get blocked
Even reaching the District Hospital becomes difficult
Diversions Are Not Helping
Heavy vehicles coming from the south are diverted through Camp, but this road is already overloaded and in poor condition. Traffic at Gandhi Circle and Camp becomes worse because most police staff are busy managing protests.
Need for a Dedicated Protest Ground
The main question is:
Why should protests in the city centre cause so much trouble when a separate protest ground can be created?
A dedicated protest zone would allow people to express their views without affecting daily life.
All About Belgaum has been asking for such a space since 2017. Now, with continuous traffic problems, the administration seems closer to taking that step.
A final decision on declaring Channamma Circle as a No-Protest Zone is expected soon.
