PANAJI
After remaining stalled for nearly three years awaiting statutory clearances, work on the State’s much-awaited iconic twin observation towers atop the new Zuari Bridge is finally set to begin by the end of this month, with contractor Dilip Buildcon Ltd (DBL) mobilising resources for the project.
The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) earlier this month granted the project Environmental Clearance (EC) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, paving the way for commencement of construction.
Speaking to The Goan, Dilip Buildcon Vice President (Constructions) Atul Joshi said preparations for the project had begun and ground work would commence within a week or by the end of September. “The preparations have begun for commencement of ground work. Resource mobilisation is currently ongoing,” Joshi said. While the concession agreement provides five years for completion, Joshi said DBL expects to complete the project in around two-and-a-half years and open the towers to the public thereafter. He also said the company would strictly comply with all conditions stipulated in the EC and CRZ clearances.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari, during his Goa visit last week, had surveyed the Zuari bridge site. In a post on X, he mentioned that the 13.20 km Zuari Bridge will feature two 125-metre-high Tourist Observatory Towers, a revolving restaurant and an art gallery. Gadkari had laid the found stone for the project in December, 2023 and in May last year held the ground-breaking ceremony.
The PWD had in 2023 executed a concession agreement with Zuari Observatory Towers, a subsidiary of Dilip Buildcon, for construction of the Rs 270-crore twin observation towers and viewing galleries atop the new Zuari Bridge. As per the tender, the project envisages two observation towers, one each on the northern and southern sides of the bridge, connected to the mainland by a 125-metre-long and 12-metre-wide elevated walkway. Visitors will be transported to the top of the towers through high-speed elevators. The towers are designed to accommodate more than 500 people each at a time. DBL completed wind tunnel testing of the model in November 2024. Visitor amenities are planned beneath the bridge on the Agassaim side, including a children's play area, toilets, pantry, ticket counter, security cabin and administrative block. The administrative block is currently being used as the developer's temporary site office.
The project is being developed on a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) basis, wherein the developer will recover its investment by charging visitors a fee for access to the observatories and will operate the towers for 50 years.
