Goa motorists can look forwards to smoother drive
Heavy machinery giving final touches to stretch of Chorla road.
BELAGAVI
What was a nightmare for all these years has now become a traveller’s ecstasy. The good news is that reconstruction and asphalting on the Belagavi-Goa road via Chorla is almost complete and the commuters can now travel to Belagavi with comfort. The board at the border ‘ Welcome to Karnataka’ has now become more meaningful. PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Friday carried out the inspection of the road.
The laying of final layer of asphalt on about 8 to 10 kms stretch between Kusmalli and Kinaye is in progress and is likely to be complete in couple of days. Thus as assured by the NHAI and Karnataka PWD authorities the work has been completed as per the deadline giving commuters an exhilarating experience.
The Goa side of the road was always in excellent condition maintained by Goa PWD, about 50 kms on the Karnataka side was in a totally dilapidated condition for almost over a decade. Commuting on this route was certainly become nightmarish as stretches of the road were full of potholes and heavily damaged causing huge convenience while more travel time was required .
It may be recalled that in February last year, Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi after following up with the NHAI authorities had got Rs 58 crore sanctioned wherein 43.381 kms from Chorla to Peeranwadi (Belagavi) was taken up. NHAI Project Director Bhuvanesh Kumar had said in March that the first layer of asphalting was completed and the second layer also known as wearing course was also to be completed before the onset of monsoons. The work on painting white strips on either side is also complete.
Monitored by NHAI, Karnataka PWD authorities carried out the reconstruction of the road and now the road is ready to give commuters a pleasant travelling experience. What is also important is that the bridge near Kankumbi is also being completed on the war footing, authorities said.
Thus commuters are experiencing a more comfortable travel via Chorla due to which the number of Goans visiting Belagavi has increased gradually and vice versa. According to a regular traveller, the distance of about 112 kms between Mapusa and Belagavi can be covered within two and half hours comfortably. "Can’t believe that the road via Chorla has become so smooth,” Gabriel D’souza a regular traveller on this road exclaimed stating that travelling between Belgaum and Goa via Chorla has now become more pleasant and comfortable.
