Holehonnur farmers to protest proposed ring road in Shivamogga

Farmers and residents of Holehonnur in Bhadravathi taluk are up in arms against a proposed ring road for the town, part of a state-wide Road Network Grid Plan. They have decided to stage a protest in Shivamogga on Friday, September 11, to voice their opposition.

The plan, ordered by the Urban Development Department on July 18, covers 52 towns across Karnataka, including Holehonnur, Tirthahalli, and Hosanagara in Shivamogga district. The government has invited suggestions and objections from the public, and many have already submitted their concerns to the offices of the Assistant Directors of Town and Country Planning.

At a meeting held in Sugur on Tuesday, farmers from Holehonnur and surrounding villages resolved to protest. They argue that the ring road would affect agricultural land spread across 26 villages. They also point out that the town already has good connectivity in all directions—towards Shivamogga, Bhadravathi, Chitradurga, and Davanagere—and does not need another ring road.

H.R. Basavarajappa, president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, said nobody wants the ring road. He questioned the purpose of the project, noting that the town's existing roads only need improvement. The proposed route, he said, would run alongside existing highways and major district roads, displacing farmers and taking away their source of income without serving any real purpose.

The protest march on Friday will culminate at the office of the Directorate of Town and Country Planning at Millagatta in Shivamogga, where participants plan to file objections en masse.