Located in the northern region of the Indian state of Karnataka, along the Western Ghats, is the city known by its formal name, Belgaum. It serves as the administrative center for the Belagavi district and division of the same name. The Karnataka government has suggested establishing Belgaum as the state’s second capital, after Bangalore, and so constructing a second state administrative structure. On October 11, 2012, Suvarna Vidhana Soudha was officially opened.

Out of 20 cities, Belgaum has been chosen for the first phase of development into a smart city under India’s premier Smart Cities Mission, out of 100 Indian cities.