Association leaders to meet Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
the goan I network
VASCO
Unhappy over the likely closure of a stretch of highway between Cortalim Circle and Sharayu Toyota and the possible traffic diversion via Chicalim, the Verna Industrial Association (VIA) plans to meet Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to oppose such traffic diversion plans.
The VIA has also threatened to take the matter to court, if the diversion plans are not shelved.
VIA President Damodar Kochkar on Thursday said over 400 industries at the Verna Industrial Estate which operate in three shifts would be most affected besides affecting thousands of executives and workers.
“Will Dilip Buildicon, which has bagged the prestigious Rs 500 crore plus Zuari Birdge project, provide the ease of traveling to work and back for Verna Industrial Estate,” asked Kochkar.
“At the moment, traveling between Panaji and Verna is miserable as there is no control over dust pollution and no widening of the road, making it difficult to travel along the route.”
“When the Mandovi bridge is being built by L&T without major diversions, why was the same technology not adopted for this bridge? When the contractor was aware that a diversion was needed to contain the increasing traffic flow, wasn’t it their duty to make alternative road arrangements?,” asked a visibly upset Kochkar.
“Every government tender has the clause specifying that the work has to be carried out without causing any hindrance and nuisance to the traveling public at large. Is this clause being diluted to help the contractor? If this was the hidden agenda, wasn’t it the duty of the contractor to have widened the roads in the first instance?”
Kochkar said the VIA has plans to meet Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to seek his intervention in the matter.
“We want the union minister to put some sense into the contractors that their operations should not be carried out for their convenience, but for the convenience of the public, as the interest of the public must come first.”
“The other option is to take the matter to court if the better sense does not prevail,” warned Kochkar.
“In view of this scenario, the Panaji-Margao one-way route would be most appropriate alongside the construction works. In any case, plans to divert traffic 22 kms via Chicalim is simply
unacceptable,” he added.
LONG ROAD AHEAD
Verna Industrial Association (VIA) is unhappy over the possible traffic diversion plan via Chicalim due to likely closure of a stretch of highway between Cortalim Circle and Sharayu Toyota
VIA President Damodar Kochkar on Thursday said over 400 industries at the Verna Industrial Estate which operate in three shifts would be most affected besides affecting thousands of executives and workers
The body plans to meet Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari over the issue
VIA has also threatened to move court if the government goes ahead with the diversion plan
