VASCO
Marking a transformative leap in Goa’s transport and connectivity, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday inaugurated India’s first curved flyover-cum-cable-stayed
bridge for port connectivity from Ravindra Bhavan to the MPT in Vasco and laid the foundation stone for five National Highway projects worth Rs 4,200 crore.
Besides launching the Rs 644 crore flyover, Gadkari also laid the foundation stone for five projects including flyover from MES college junction to Bogmalo junction and VUP at Queeny junction (Rs 472 crore), 4-Laning from end of Zuari approaches to the start of Margao bypass (Rs 398 crore), 4-Laning from Navelim to Cuncolim (Rs 747 crore), 4-Laning from Bendordem to Pollem (Rs 1376 crore), and 4-Laning from Ponda to Bhoma which is part of Hyderabad Goa corridor (Rs 557 crore).
Highlighting the significance of the Rs 644 crore loop port connectivity flyover, connecting the Mormugao Port to South Goa, Gadkari said “this port connectivity flyover is a project which have been carried out in two loops. The first loop from Varunapuri to Sada Junction to Gate no 1 of Mormugao Port was inaugurated by me in January 2022. The second loop from Ravindra Bhavan to Mormugao Port gate 9 is being inaugurated today. This loop includes the up ramp at Vasco and down ramp at Baina".
The minister explained how the project, conceived during the tenure of late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, was designed to address traffic congestion and pollution around the port. “This flyover will save time, reduce traffic jams, and minimize pollution, benefitting locals and improving logistics for the port,” he added.
Navy’s claims
Gadkari also voiced his doubts on the claims made by the Navy.
“I request the chief minister to convene a meeting to check for issues in the flying zone. The Navy has claimed at many places that the land belongs to them but I feel that the Navy compound wall has encroached on the road and I have spoken to my officials. I request the CM to measure the road and encroachments, no matter who it belongs to, we can send them notices and get it cleared,” said Gadkari.
Mishaps & pollution
The union minister said there are around 5 lakh accidents a year and 1.80 lakh people die in these accidents.
“Sometimes, these accidents are near the entry and exit point of schools. We want to improve all the dark spots and I request the State government to ensure that this is done on priority wherever required through National Highway or state Highway or Municipal jurisdiction road. I want to urge the State Government to take an initiative to make Goa accident and pollution free,” said Gadkari.
Key projects
The minister also announced updates on several key projects.
Regarding the Mumbai-Goa NH66, Gadkari said three packages cover 124 km at a cost of Rs 2,521 crore and around 75 kms of the work is complete, with the remaining set to be finished soon.
Outlining ambitious plans for Goa, Gadkari said land acquisition and forest clearances would be expedited for NH 66 projects, while a parallel highway would be developed from Patradevi to Polem to boost tourism.
In addition, there would be adding greenery along roads through forest department initiatives and seamless connectivity between Goa, Karnataka, and Telangana via the Goa-Hyderabad corridor.
He also asked the government to expedite land acquisition processes for the various ongoing and proposed projects.
Gadkari informed that Rs 650 crore worth Cuncolim to Bendodem road project, Rs 3300 crore worth Karnataka border to Khandepar road project, Rs 750 crore worth Bhoma to Old Goa project and the Rs 1200 crore worth Borim bridge project are at the DPR and land acquisition phases.
Zuari bridge facilities
Commenting on the Zuari cable stayed bridge, Gadkari said the bridge was taken up at a cost of Rs 2,530 crore and has scope for various facilities.
“I had suggested and planned to have a viewing gallery to make it an attraction spot. We have planned a capsule lift on both sides and I request the Government to give us the land near the bridge so that parking and restaurant facility can be taken up because I had planned to have a light and sound show in the background at this location,” said Gadkari.
“We will have a 125-metre observatory tower at cost of Rs 270 crore and I want to assure that this project will become the world attraction. There can be entertainment zones, boating, restaurants and display Goan handicrafts as well which will generate huge employment for locals. A walkway can be added between towers to see the entire Goa and then sit in a coffee shop," said Gadkari.
Porvorim flyover
The union minister stated that 15 per cent of the Rs 640 crore six-lane elevated corridor on the NH66 has been completed at Porvorim.
“The difficulty of the contractor will be addressed to get the works done soon. This project once completed will enhance the traffic movement and double the capacity,” said Gadkari.
The event was attended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, MLAs Sankalp Amonkar, Krishna Salkar, Ulhas Tuenkar, Chief Secretary Dr V Candevalou, IAS, South Goa Collector Egna Cleetus and others.
Call for action on
encroachments
VASCO: Gadkari advised the State government to inspect roads and address encroachments, which included government offices.
"I want to make a special request to CM Pramod Sawant and Chief Secretary. I have a doubt that many government offices/officers have encroached on the main road because the width does not seem proper.”
“Please carry out an inspection and measure the present width of the road before we start the works and check for our record and send notices to these people to clear the encroachment and if they don't agree then I will arrange to demolish them using a bulldozer,” warned Gadkari, which was one of the highlights of his speech.
