VASCO
Thousands of vehicles will soon get to bypass the heart of Vasco city as the shorter, safer and congestion-free up-ramp in Vasco is nearing completion and set to be inaugurated by the end of November.
This will mark a crucial milestone in decongesting the city’s traffic and providing an important exit route. It will also be a relief to residents and commuters, especially after a series of delays caused by the pandemic and various controversies surrounding the project.
Initially conceived as part of the four-lane Port Connectivity Project, the up-ramp project gained traction in February 2020 when former Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida pushed for the Traffic Cell’s clearance to commence construction.
The ramp, planned near the iconic Hotel Maharaja, was seen as a necessary infrastructure development to ease traffic in Vasco. However, political changes, financial hurdles, and the pandemic delayed progress.
In 2021, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stepped in to resolve deadlocks between the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the Public Works Department (PWD) regarding additional costs. Sawant assured the people of Vasco that the up-ramp would be a dedicated one-way exit, improving traffic flow out of the city.
CONTROVERSIES, OPPOSITION
As construction plans took shape, the project faced opposition from activists, environmentalists, and local politicians. Concerns were raised over the alignment of the up-ramp, which was initially planned to pass near the old Madina Masjid, sparking fears about potential structural damage and chaos near the already congested vegetable market.
Several alternatives were proposed, including re-routing the exit via Kharewaddo or MPA Ground at Baina. These suggestions, however, were not adopted.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, who succeeded Almeida in 2022, held meetings to incorporate feedback from stakeholders and the community. He faced resistance but ultimately persuaded all parties that the best location for the ramp was near the Vasco Police Station, ensuring minimal disruption to the city’s daily life.
After overcoming significant opposition, construction began in April 2023, causing road closures along the FL Gomes Road between the IOC Junction and Hotel Maharaja.
Heavy vehicles were redirected via the four-lane flyover, while small vehicles and buses were diverted along Swatantra Path. These closures, however, impacted the annual Damodar Bhajani Saptah festival, causing inconvenience to vendors and festival-goers due to traffic chaos and relocation of stalls.
Despite initial projections of nine months, the ramp construction stretched beyond its timeline. The road closures were lifted in August, ahead of this year’s Saptah festival, alleviating some traffic woes.
STATUS OF PROJECT
As of October, 90% of the up-ramp construction is complete. Senior officials from Gammon India, the construction firm handling the project, confirmed that only girder erection and road joints remain before the final tarring can begin.
The service roads beneath the ramp have been widened, and rainwater drainage systems have been installed, improving road conditions.
R. Prabhakaran, Senior Commercial Manager of Gammon India, announced that the ramp is on track to be inaugurated by the end of November. The road network beneath the ramp has already been opened for temporary traffic movement, offering a glimpse of the improvement to come.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar hailed the up-ramp as a game-changer for the city, emphasising its importance for easing congestion and providing a critical exit route in emergencies.
“This project faced much opposition, but we have proven its value. The service roads beneath the ramp are now wider and better than before. Vasco’s growing population and traffic require this additional infrastructure,” Salkar said.
With two main exits out of Vasco currently overwhelmed with traffic, the new up-ramp promises to ease pressure on the city’s roads and significantly enhance connectivity, allowing vehicles to move efficiently towards Verna via Dabolim Airport.
As Vasco gears up for the inauguration of this long-awaited project, the city looks forward to a future of smoother and safer traffic.
