Apr 24, 2011, 06.31am IST TNN 
CHANDRAPUR: Social activist Bandu Dhotre called off his five-day long fast for construction of road over bridge (ROB) at Babupeth railway crossing following the assurance of guardian minister Sanjay Deotale on Friday evening. Deotale assured Dhotre that Babupeth ROB will be constructed at the earliest either through Integrated Road Development Programme (IRDP) project or Rs 250 crore approved for development of Chandrapur town in budgetary provision.
Dhotre, who had launched the fast unto death on April 18, in front of district collectorate, demanded that the IRDP project pending before cabinet subcommittee for infrastructure be cleared at the earliest. If it is going to be delayed, then construction of ROB should be taken up with the Rs 250 crores fund allocated for development of town to mark pentacentenary celebration of Chandrapur.
The very next day after Dhotre began his hunger strike, dozens of women launched chain hunger strike in Babupeth locality in support of his demand. Taking cognisance of rising support for Dhotre's agitation, district administration convened a meeting between Deotale and Dhotre at rest house on Friday. The issue of Babupeth ROB was discussed in details in the presence of MLA Subhash Dhote and collector Vijay Waghmare.
"Deotale has assured to see that IRDP project is cleared by cabinet subcommittee on infrastructure at the earliest. If clearance of IRDP is delayed for some reasons, he assured that work of Babupeth ROB would be taken up with the Rs 250 cores funds given for development of Chandrapur," said Dhotre.
After obtaining a written assurance from Deotale, Dhotre agreed to call off his strike. Accordingly MLA Dhote and additional collector NB Wati reached the agitation place and Dhotre drank a glass of lemon juice at their hands to call off his agitation.
Dhotre, who had launched the fast unto death on April 18, in front of district collectorate, demanded that the IRDP project pending before cabinet subcommittee for infrastructure be cleared at the earliest. If it is going to be delayed, then construction of ROB should be taken up with the Rs 250 crores fund allocated for development of town to mark pentacentenary celebration of Chandrapur.
The very next day after Dhotre began his hunger strike, dozens of women launched chain hunger strike in Babupeth locality in support of his demand. Taking cognisance of rising support for Dhotre's agitation, district administration convened a meeting between Deotale and Dhotre at rest house on Friday. The issue of Babupeth ROB was discussed in details in the presence of MLA Subhash Dhote and collector Vijay Waghmare.
"Deotale has assured to see that IRDP project is cleared by cabinet subcommittee on infrastructure at the earliest. If clearance of IRDP is delayed for some reasons, he assured that work of Babupeth ROB would be taken up with the Rs 250 cores funds given for development of Chandrapur," said Dhotre.
After obtaining a written assurance from Deotale, Dhotre agreed to call off his strike. Accordingly MLA Dhote and additional collector NB Wati reached the agitation place and Dhotre drank a glass of lemon juice at their hands to call off his agitation.
