After 12 yrs, Mata school in Baina to get road access

In the absence of proper road access, several students were forced to walk through muddy waters during the monsoons.   

The road was also a long-pending demand as it connects to a railway overbridge between Baina and Vasco, which is used by over 10,000 pedestrians on a daily basis.   

The proposed road project had been stuck for many years as Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) had claimed ownership of the land and construction of this road required an NOC from the MPT.   

Almeida launched the road construction work in the presence of ward councillor and former Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) chairperson Deepak Naik, Principal of MSS Subhash Shirodkar on Wednesday morning.   

Speaking to the media, Almeida said he was thankful to MPT chairman and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for the road.   

“The MPT did not want to allow this road because they had plans to increase the adjoining MPT ground. I then approached the MPT chairman and Parrikar and finally got the NOC due to which the road will become a reality.”   

“The road will benefit students of MSS and residents of the area. We are also planning to shift MSS to a site opposite Tanya Hotel and we are already discussing with Comunidade and I hope to shift this school in the next two years,” said Almeida.   

Ward Councillor Deepak Naik said students and residents had faced a lot of difficulties, especially in the monsoons.   

“The roadwork will cost around Rs 15 lakh and will be completed soon. Despite receiving the MPT’s NOC, we had to wait for some time as the tender had no takers on three occasions. Finally, the roadwork was tendered a fourth time and we got a contractor, else this road would have been ready five years ago,” said Naik.   

MSS Principal Subhash Shirodkar said a road was existing when he had joined MSS in 1984, but it had deteriorated and disappeared over years after MPT buses began moving on these roads.   

“It is a dream come true for us,” said Shirodkar.