Assures preservation of old trees along project stretch
VASCO
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar on Saturday carried out an on-site inspection of the ongoing railway underpass and road-widening works and assured residents that the age-old tree standing at the centre of the road widening works near Tanya Hotel will be preserved. He said the project has been redesigned to strike a balance between development needs and environmental protection.
Speaking to reporters during the inspection, Salkar said that safeguarding the tree was a priority. “All measures will be taken to protect the tree and maintain a balance between development and the environment. Wherever possible, this will remain my top priority,” he said.
Explaining the underpass plan, Salkar said the new structure was conceived specifically to improve emergency access. “The additional railway underpass is planned only for emergency vehicles to safeguard the lives of the people. Concrete frames will be fitted beneath the railway bridge to create the new passage, while the existing road will remain open,” he said. He added that once the frames are installed, “it will serve as a second underpass where emergency vehicles will get priority,” while the existing route will be widened and equipped with box culverts to function like a four-lane road.
Salkar noted that an earlier proposal to lift the railway tracks for a new underpass was dropped due to high cost and extensive work required along the entire Vasco–Cortalim stretch and the ongoing upgrades at the Vasco railway station. “We then met the railways and finalised this concrete-frame proposal to ensure people’s safety,” he said.
The MLA said the frames would be installed within three to four days, after which residents would get clarity on vehicular movement. “Road widening will begin once the frames are set and should be completed in the next two months. Vasco is a congested city with limited space, and we are trying to widen roads wherever land is available,” he added.
Emphasising the emotional connection locals have with longstanding trees, Salkar said environmental considerations were integral to the project. “Vasco people share a strong bond with the old trees across the city. As the population grows, we need better infrastructure and wider roads to reduce accidents and bottlenecks. But our first priority is always to save these trees,” he said.
Referring to the old tree near Tanya Hotel, he explained that engineers were directed to redesign the alignment to avoid cutting it. “This tree is very old, gives good shade, and many people are attached to it. Though we have permission to cut it, we created an alignment to preserve it. We even brought our executive engineer to the site to finalise the layout,” Salkar said.
He added that preservation would always be the preferred approach. “Wherever we can save trees, it will be done on priority. If there is absolutely no alternative, we will attempt transplantation, and cutting will be the last option. As of now, we have managed to save two age-old trees by adjusting the alignment and introducing a median,” Salkar said.
