A BRIDGE TOO FAR: CHURCHILL VS AVERTANO

MARGAO
The battle lines are drawn. The show of strength over the decade-old Navelim-Benaulim bridge project has brought arch-political rivals Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao and ex-Navelim MLA Avertano back to the fore.

If Avertano had mobilized locals to convey a message to the government that there’s no change in stand of Navelkars on their objection to the bridge, Churchill’s son Savio led the people of Benaulim on the other side of the river in support of the bridge.

Having got the sanction to complete the bridge, which was abandoned midway by former Chief Minister, late Manohar Parrikar in 2012, Churchill now banks on the Pramod Sawant government to take the bridge to its logical conclusion. Avertano, on the other hand, also pins hopes on the Chief Minister to scrap the bridge work, notwithstanding the PWD has issued work order to the contractor. Avertano and local residents have petitioned the government with around 500 signatures opposing the construction of the bridge.

The situation reads like this on the ground: Having tendered the work for remaining part of the bridge and the contractor geared up to execute the work, PWD Executive Engineer, Prasad Panandikar has moved the Goa police seeking police protection fearing trouble from the opponents of the bridge.

The PWD has roped in surveyors from the Survey Department to demarcate the land acquired for the project to make doubly sure so as to avoid legal issues on the construction of the approach roads to the bridge. “The contractor will start the work on the bridge very soon. The surveyors are conducting the survey. The contractor will soon build huts to store the construction material”, Panandikar said.

Avertano and other opponents seemed leaving no stone unturned to stop the bridge work. He called on the Chief Minister as well as PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar to convey the objections on resumption of the bridge work. “I expect the PWD Minister to soon inspect the bridge. I am sure the Chief Minister will not go ahead with the work”, he said. Avertano warned that people will not allow the work to resume come what may.

Churchill, on the other hand, said the government has already given the nod for the work, saying there’s now no question of abandoning the bridge work. “The work is tendered and the work order issued. Work on the project will start soon”, he added.

The Navelim-Benaulim bridge was one of Churchill’s three dream bridges proposed by him during his stint as the PWD Minister. While the Assolna-Cavelossim and Varca-Telaulim bridges were commissioned, the Navelim-Benaulim bridge was embroiled in controversies, before being abandoned mid-way after former Chief Minster late Manohar Parrikar’s much-publicised inspection of the site, riding pillion on a scooter with ex-Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva in 2012.

Has the decade-old project lost its
relevance? 2 heavyweights differ

MARGAO: Has the Navelim-Benaulim bridge, proposed a decade ago, lost its importance in 2021 given that the two villages of Benaulim and Navelim are now being connected by the four-lane western bypass, with service roads and connectivity right up to the NH-66 at Navelim?

The western bypass road and bridge has come up near the Karle properties, Benaulim, approximately around a kilometer from Voltar, Benaulim, the starting point of the approach road to the proposed Benaulim-Navelim bridge.

Ex-Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado is categorical in saying the Navelim-Benaulim bridge has lost its relevance since the two villages are now linked by the western bypass. “We fail to understand why Churchill is insisting on the Navelim-Benaulim bridge”, he said.

Churchill, however, begged to differ. “I don’t think the Navelim-Benaulim bridge has lost its importance.

No doubt, the western bypass has come up in the last 10 years. But, since the government has spent over Rs four crore on the abandoned bridge, we have to ensure the tax payer’s money doesn’t go in drain”, he said.

Let the issue be settled
at gram sabha: Luizinho

MARGAO: After I got elected in 2017 from Navelim, I was moving around all the booths, when people from Navelim questioned me why the Navelim-Benaulim bridge has been abandoned midway. Now, since Churchill Alemao has revived the bridge, the best forum to decide on the issue is the village gram sabha if people have any grievances over the bridge.

In the past, the Navelim gram sabha had resolved to oppose the Navelim police station and that was accepted by the villagers. Let the Navelim gram sabha deliberate and discuss on the bridge issue and come to a decision.