the goan I network
PANAJI
With the inauguration of the third Mandovi bridge on Sunday by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the ruling BJP-led coalition government is set to mount the ‘high horse’ of big-ticket development into the election campaign season. Gadkari is also expected to use Sunday’s bridge inaugural function to announce the Centre’s sanction for more infrastructure projects.
According to PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, sanction for more projects worth nearly Rs 2000-crore have been accorded by the Centre.
Dhavalikar said, the clearances have been verbally conveyed to him by Gadkari who is likely to himself announce these projects at the new Mandovi bridge inauguration. The minister however did not specify what these new infrastructure projects are all about.
Meanwhile, the State government has decided not to throw the bridge open for vehicular traffic on January 27, the day of its inauguration as well as on the following day. Instead on these two days, public will be allowed to visit the bridge for a look-over on Sunday after the inauguration and on the whole day on
Monday.
It will be fully commissioned for vehicular traffic from Tuesday, official sources said.
Meanwhile, the government has notified a temporary traffic plan by which the Old Mandovi Bridge and third Mandovi Bridge have been declared ‘no pedestrian’ zones.
The plan, which is temporary and on a trial basis for a month, also specifies the traffic flow thus:
On the Old Mandovi only one-way traffic, that is vehicles going to Mapusa from the KTC bus-stand will be permitted. Only vehicles below laden weight of 12-tonnes are allowed on this bridge.
The traffic on the third Madovi bridge will be allowed to be used as two way with restriction on movement of two and 3-wheelers.
Speed limits on all three bridges will be 50 kilometers per hour.
All the three bridges will be no-halting and no-parking zones.
THE traffic PLAN
On the Old Mandovi only one-way traffic, that is vehicles going to Mapusa from the KTC bus-stand will be permitted. Only vehicles below laden weight of 12-tonnes are allowed on this bridge
The traffic on the third Madovi bridge will be allowed to be used as two way with restriction on movement of two and 3-wheelers
Speed limits on all three bridges will be 50 kilometers per hour
All the three bridges will be no-halting and no-parking zones
