MAPUSA
The State government will set up an inter-departmental coordination committee under the Public Works Department (PWD) to regulate road digging for laying essential utilities, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced while presenting the budget in the Legislative Assembly.
The move aims to bring better coordination among departments involved in laying utilities such as water pipelines, electricity cables and telecom infrastructure, which often require repeated excavation of newly laid roads.
According to Sawant, the committee will scrutinise and grant approvals for projects that require road excavation, ensuring that digging is carried out in a regulated manner and only when necessary.
The initiative is expected to minimise damage to roads and prevent frequent disruptions to traffic caused by uncoordinated digging by multiple agencies.
The Chief Minister also said the government plans to incorporate utility ducts in newly constructed roads, enabling various service providers to lay cables and pipelines without repeatedly excavating road surfaces in the future. The measure is aimed at improving the durability of roads and ensuring better management of underground utilities.
Meanwhile, the government has also lined up three major infrastructure projects to be undertaken during the current financial year. These include the construction of a four-lane road connecting Tuem Electronic City to the National Highway, a bridge near the Paikadev Temple in Sanguem, and improvement of access roads and beautification works around Goa Medical College and nearby institutions.
A total provision of Rs 444.63 crore has been earmarked for these projects in the budget.
Sawant said the initiatives form part of the government’s broader efforts to improve road infrastructure while ensuring that development works are carried out in a coordinated and sustainable manner.
The Chief Minister also noted that the government intends to introduce GIS-based mapping and monitoring of infrastructure projects in the future to enhance planning, supervision and execution of works across the State.
In another announcement the CM said the government has decided that every MLA will submit a priority list of capital works and repair and maintenance projects at the beginning of each financial year.
Based on these submissions, the government will approve projects, with each constituency eligible for works worth up to Rs 100 crore across departments.
Sawant said the State expects significant support from the Centre for highway development due to the “double engine government”.
He said Goa is likely to receive approvals worth around Rs 3,000 crore from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for national highway projects, crediting the support of the Prime Minister and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
