the goan I network
CANACONA
The 7.74-km four-lane NH-66 highway between Char-Rasta and Maxem-Loliem is on the verge of completion and yet, certain anomalies and suggestions have been identified and Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes has demanded the rectification of these issues before the project is commissioned.
These anomalies were noticed when Fernandes and other officials conducted a site inspection of the road and bridges along with various government agencies and elected representatives.
There was a suggestion to construct an ‘Island/Divider’ at the entry of the new road at Char-Rasta in order to make the entry and exit an ‘Accident-free’ zone at Char-Rasta and Maxem.
Directions were issued to provide all road signs, including the signs indicating the movement of school children and cattle, entry and diversions, no-horn zone, etc at all the suitable points.
There was also a demand for proper illumination of the road and especially along the bridge sections in Talpona, Galgibaga and the Maxem creek, besides a retaining wall near the power sub-station at Char-Rasta, and tarring of an internal road.
An Island Circle/Divider was requested at Rajbag-Tarir, between the Service Road and Highway, to avoid mishaps and accidents, while authorities were also asked to reduce water stagnation below the overbridge.
Strengthening of both side walls, wherever necessary along the entire route, and levelling of uneven portions of the road were also put forth during the inspection. Besides, rumblers or speed breakers have also been suggested at the highway approach points on all service roads.
The contractor has been asked to remove debris from the Nullah which had been dumped during road construction work near Matorshi-Galgibaga to avoid flooding in future. Three electricity poles were identified for shifting after an unplanned service road at Galgibaga brought these poles dangerously close to motorists.
The PWD has been asked to do away with obstacles which hinder clear visibility of the 4-lane road and to widen the road to provide proper free passages. “People from Canacona have been waiting for these bridges and road for the past 30 years or so, and they do not have any problem to wait for another 30 days, provided this road is commissioned as an Accident Free Zone. All anomalies and suggestions put forth have to be rectified and we can take up the matter with the PWD minister for assistance, before Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is requested to inaugurate this first-of-a-kind road in Goa,” Fernandes told the officials.
Among those present during the site inspection included Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Nitu Sameer Desai and some councillors, Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Shailesh Pagui, Shristhal Sarpanch Ganesh Gaonkar, Poinguinim Sarpanch Jagdish Gaonkar, panchas, PWD (Highway) Supdt Engr Rajendra Kamat, Executive Engineer Laximikant Naik, Assistant Engineer Subhash Pagui, Technical Assistant Nagraj Adpaikar, Canacona PI Tukaram Chawan, PSI (Traffic) Harish Raut Desai, Electricity Department Asst Engineer Sanjay Gaonkar, PWD (Water supply) JE Deepraj Madkaikar, representative of road contractor M/s M V R Infra and Canacona BJP Mandal President Mahesh Naik.
