Belagavi RTO (KA-22) registered 4,082 vehicles in April 2026, taking the 2026 total to 16,538 vehicles (Jan: 3,831 | Feb: 3,356 | Mar: 5,510).

At the very top, Motorcycles/Scooters once again ruled the roads with 3,094 registrations, making up the overwhelming majority. A distant second came Motor Cars at 609, followed by Agricultural Tractors (59) and Mopeds (43).

Among transport vehicles, Goods Carriers led with 157, while Three-Wheeler Passenger (41) and Motor Cabs (36) showed moderate activity. The tail end saw minimal movement — categories like Educational Institution Bus, Crane Mounted Vehicle, Forklift and Adapted Vehicle recorded just 1 each, marking the lowest.

From a fuel perspective, Petrol/Ethanol dominated with 1,772 vehicles, followed by Petrol (1,023) and a strong showing from Pure EVs (675). Diesel stood at 341, indicating a gradual shift away from traditional fuel dominance.

On the manufacturer front, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India led with 768 registrations, narrowly ahead of TVS Motor Company (686) and Hero MotoCorp (651). Suzuki (333) and Bajaj Auto (266) followed. At the bottom, several niche and premium manufacturers recorded just 1 unit each, highlighting a highly skewed market dominated by mass two-wheeler brands.

Belagavi continues to move on two wheels, petrol still fuels the majority, EVs are steadily rising, and Honda edges ahead in the race among manufacturers.

Amid rising complaints about agents interfering in the day-to-day functioning of the Belagavi City Corporation and the resulting inconvenience to citizens, the Chief Minister’s Office has stepped in, ordering an immediate inquiry.

Dr. K. Vaishnavi, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister, wrote to the Secretary of the Urban Development Department on April 10, raising a sharp concern: whether the Corporation is being run by its officials or by agents. The remark highlights growing doubts over the credibility of the civic administration.

While formal procedures—such as application processing, verification, and approvals—are in place, citizens reportedly continue to depend on agents to get their work done. The letter points out that this “agent network” appears to be overshadowing official systems.

The Chief Minister’s Office has directed a detailed and time-bound investigation, calling not just for a preliminary report but a comprehensive analysis to identify lapses, fix accountability, and recommend corrective measures. A compliance report must be submitted to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat at Vidhan Soudha upon completion of the inquiry.

A copy of the communication has also been sent to the Municipal Commissioner, urging immediate internal action. This has increased pressure on the local administration, with the likelihood of irregularities coming to light.

The development has cast serious doubts on the functioning of the Corporation. If the allegations are confirmed, disciplinary action against responsible officials cannot be ruled out. The situation also underscores the urgent need to curb agent interference, improve transparency, and strengthen systems to better serve citizens.

Child Marriage stopped by Akka Pade

On April 29, 2026, acting on a tip-off about a child marriage in Shastri Nagar, Shahapur, Belagavi, the Akka Pade squad and District Child Protection Unit intervened. They found a 13-year-old girl had been married to a man from Mudalagi.

Belagavi City Corporation’s anti-encroachment drive continued today behind Hindalga Ganesh Temple on Hanuman Nagar Double Road, where unauthorised banners and kiosks were removed.

Bharatiya Krishik Samaj has urged the State government to take over Krishi Bhavan infront of CBTin Belagavi, alleging it is no longer serving farmers. Built in 1996 for farmer meetings and agri-related activities, part of the building has reportedly been converted into a bar and restaurant, violating its intended purpose, said president Sidagouda Modagi.

The ongoing dispute over making fare meters compulsory in autorickshaws has escalated in the city, with the police making it clear that the final decision rests solely with the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

Addressing mediapersons recently, Police Commissioner Bhushan Borse stated that the enforcement of meters is a policy matter under the RTO’s jurisdiction. “The role of the police is limited to maintaining law and order and acting on complaints. The decision to make meters compulsory must come from the RTO,” he clarified.

The statement comes amid growing friction between autorickshaw drivers and commuters across Belagavi. Over the past few days, several instances of fare disputes have been reported, with passengers alleging that drivers are charging arbitrary rates in the absence of functional meters.

While it is widely understood that the RTO has decided in principle to enforce mandatory meters, implementation on the ground remains negligible. Passengers have accused the transport authorities of delaying action, alleging that the process has remained largely confined to paperwork without tangible results.

The issue has further intensified during ongoing discussions around fare revision. Autorickshaw unions in Belagavi have strongly opposed the immediate enforcement of meters, demanding a fresh fare structure that factors in rising fuel prices, maintenance costs, and increasing traffic congestion. Drivers argue that operating under the existing fare rates is economically unviable.

On the other hand, commuters have called for urgent and strict enforcement of meter-based fares to bring transparency and consistency, pointing out that unchecked pricing has become a daily inconvenience.

The lack of coordinated action between departments has added to the stalemate. While the RTO is yet to roll out full-scale implementation, the police have reiterated that they will act strictly on complaints related to overcharging once a formal mechanism is in place.

For now, the issue remains caught in administrative limbo, with both passengers and drivers awaiting a decisive move from the transport authorities.

Rajkumar Topannavar and Sujit Mulgund have submitted a detailed complaint to the Karnataka Lokayukta SP in Belagavi, alleging a massive illegal mining racket involving bauxite and aluminous laterite ore worth thousands of crores in Belagavi district, particularly in Belagavi and Khanapur talukas.

The complaint points to незакон mining on government land bearing Survey No. 285 in Belgundi village, raising serious concerns over violations of mining laws, environmental norms, and regulatory procedures. The complainants have named senior officials, including those from the Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka, and the Indian Bureau of Mines, alleging negligence, lack of oversight, and possible collusion in allowing such activities to continue. They claim that permissions were granted or allowed despite mining being carried out on undisclosed government land and without mandatory clearances from Revenue, Forest, and Environmental authorities.

The complaint further identifies Malini Resources as a key entity allegedly involved in illegal extraction, transportation, and disposal of minerals without valid approvals. It states that mining operations have exceeded permissible limits and have not adhered to approved mining plans, indicating a systematic breakdown of regulatory enforcement.

Serious allegations have also been made about an inter-state network operating between Karnataka and Maharashtra. The complainants have raised concerns over the role of officials in Maharashtra, including the Chandgad Tahsildar, who is allegedly issuing transport permits for mineral material dumped at Savalli village without verifying its origin, thereby enabling the movement and legalization of illegally mined ore.

According to the complaint, despite ongoing незакон mining activities, authorities have failed to take effective action, leading to massive loss of government royalty and severe environmental damage. The impacts cited include destruction of natural landscapes, depletion of groundwater resources, and adverse effects on agriculture and local livelihoods.

The complainants have urged the Lokayukta to initiate a comprehensive investigation into Malini Resources, examine the role of the named officials, and uncover the full extent of the inter-state mining network.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking to the media in Bengaluru, announced key developments to strengthen rail connectivity between Bengaluru and Mumbai.

During his visit to BEML’s Thippasandra campus, he inaugurated a dedicated complex for manufacturing high-speed B-28 trainsets, described as India’s indigenous bullet train initiative.

He also confirmed the rollout of two new train services between the two cities in the coming months. These include a superfast Mail/Express train via Belagavi, featuring advanced LHB coaches, and a Vande Bharat Sleeper Express designed for faster and more comfortable overnight travel.

The Vande Bharat sleeper service will operate between KSR Bengaluru and CSMT Mumbai via Guntakal and Kalaburagi, with an estimated travel time of around 16 hours.

Meanwhile, the Belagavi route train—originally announced as a bi-weekly service in December—is set to be upgraded to a superfast category. While the route remains unchanged, the upgrade is expected to reduce overall travel time, according to sources in the South Western Railway.

In a shocking incident, unidentified persons opened fire at the residence of advocate Pooja Kakatakar between 1 and 2 am last night. The shots were aimed at the first floor of the house on Mandoli Road, Belagavi, at a time when her daughter was reportedly upstairs reading.

The firing shattered the first-floor window glass, with a clear bullet mark visible at the site. Police teams visited the spot for inspection. The damaged window pane containing the bullet has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for detailed analysis.

A case has been registered at the Belagavi Rural Police Station, and investigations are underway. Advocate Pooja Kakatakar, who has been practicing for the past 18 years, has been assured police protection following the incident.

Preliminary suspicion suggests that the attack could be linked to a high-profile case she is currently handling, though officials are awaiting the FSL report for further clarity.

The operational strength of the Indian Army received a notable boost on Saturday with the raising of the 16th ‘Bhairav’ Battalion at the prestigious Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belagavi.

The battalion was formally commissioned at a ceremonial event, during which Brigadier Joydeep Mukherjee, Commandant of the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre, presented the battalion flag to the Commanding Officer of the newly raised unit.

The Bhairav Battalion, also referred to as a Bhairav Light Commando Battalion, is part of the Indian Army’s newer effort to build lean, high-mobility tactical units that can operate between conventional infantry and Special Forces. Each unit is reported to have around 250 specially trained soldiers and is designed for rapid-response roles, reconnaissance, surprise raids, and other high-intensity missions in sensitive border areas. These battalions are intended to give the Army faster, more flexible options in modern conflict, while relieving some pressure on elite Special Forces formations.

The induction of the ‘Bhairav’ Battalion marks a strategic addition to the Army’s infantry capabilities, particularly in the context of evolving security challenges. Officials highlighted the growing importance of light, mobile, and agile infantry units capable of rapid deployment and effective response across varied terrains and conflict scenarios.

The ceremony underscored the Indian Army’s continued focus on modernisation, capability enhancement, and maintaining a high state of operational readiness.

The Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre, one of the oldest and most respected training establishments of the Indian Army, continues to play a pivotal role in shaping combat-ready soldiers for the nation.

Belagavi-origin entrepreneur and innovator Akash Kulgod, founder of Dognosis, has announced a major global breakthrough in cancer detection, with his team publishing a landmark research paper in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO)—widely regarded as the world’s leading journal in oncology.

The study, titled “Canine Olfaction Combined With Bayesian Modeling for Multicancer Detection From Breath Samples”, presents a novel approach that uses trained dogs along with advanced statistical modeling to detect multiple cancers from human breath samples.

High Accuracy in Multicancer Detection
The multicentre Phase II study, conducted across six hospitals in Karnataka, involved 3,275 participants, making it the largest study of its kind. The results demonstrated over 90% sensitivity and specificity, with an AUC of 0.962—indicating high diagnostic accuracy.
Notably, the system showed consistent performance even in early-stage cancers, a critical factor in improving survival rates. The research combines canine scent detection—long known for its ability to identify cancer-related volatile organic compounds—with a Bayesian fusion model to enhance reliability and scalability.

From Idea to Global Recognition
Sharing the milestone on LinkedIn, Kulgod reflected on the journey: what began nearly five years ago as an idea has now translated into a globally recognized scientific contribution. He credited an “incredible interspecies team” and a wide network of collaborators, including global leaders like Medical Detection Dogs, for making the study possible.
For decades, trained dogs have demonstrated remarkable ability to detect cancers, often outperforming conventional methods in controlled settings. However, the challenge has been translating this ability into scalable, clinically usable systems—something this study attempts to address through engineering and data science integration.

Relevance for India and Beyond
The research holds particular significance for countries like India, where cancer screening coverage remains low. A non-invasive, low-cost triage tool such as breath-based detection could help identify high-risk individuals earlier and reduce pressure on healthcare systems.
The study’s findings establish strong analytical validity and pave the way for larger, real-world screening trials.

Next Step: Belagavi Trials
In a development that puts Belagavi on the global research map, Kulgod revealed that a prospective, multicentre clinical trial will soon be initiated in the city, in collaboration with Lakeview Hospital and KLE institutions.

This upcoming trial is expected to evaluate the technology in real-world screening conditions, moving closer to potential deployment in public health systems.

With this publication in JCO—a journal that oncologists worldwide rely on to guide clinical practice—Kulgod and his team have positioned Belagavi as an emerging contributor to cutting-edge medical innovation.

Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar has stepped into film production with her debut venture, Anna from Mexico, and officially launched the teaser at a private hotel in Bengaluru on Thursday. The film is being produced under the Aira Films banner, and the teaser release marked her first public appearance as a producer in Kannada cinema.

Speaking at the event, Hebbalkar said Kannada cinema has a rich legacy and that she has grown up watching Kannada films. She expressed her wish to make bigger and more impactful films in the future, especially projects with meaningful, social and family-oriented themes. She also said she would speak to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about censorship-related concerns, adding that she wants the Kannada film industry to grow even stronger.

Hebbalkar said the film has been made with the intention of contributing something fresh to Kannada cinema. Dhananjaya, who plays a key role in the film, said the project originated during the Hoysala shoot, when Hebbalkar suggested exploring a film concept, which later developed into Anna from Mexico through collaboration with her brother and co-producer Chennaraj B Hattiholi. He added that the team moved from a pure action idea to a family entertainer and chose director Shankar Guru for his balance of mass appeal and family-oriented storytelling.

The film stars Reeshma Nanaiah, Rangayana Raghu and Nagabhushan, with music by Vasuki Vaibhav, editing by Ajay and art direction by Guna. The teaser launch was attended by several guests, including MLC Channaraj Hattiholi, MLA Nayana Motamma, Dhananjaya, Shankar Guru, Satya Royal, Divya of Z Studios, Shyam of Anand Audio and others from the film team.