Carraswaddo, Khandepar roads to be four-laned
Bridges at Assonora, Bicholim, Sanquelim & Pale
the goan I network
PANAJI
The central government has given its in-principle approval to projects worth Rs 8,000 crore including the four-laning of the road between Carraswaddo in Mapusa and Khandepar in Ponda.
The controversial project, that seeks to expand the current congest road that runs between Mapusa, Assonora, Bicholim, Sankhali and further on to Ponda will also include service roads along the heavily populated and narrow corridor.
Announcing this, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said that the Rs 8000 crore project will include the construction of four bridges at Assonora, Bicholim, Sanquelim and Pale.
Besides this, Sudin has announced that the widening of several other highways including the national highway between Molem to Khandepar, the stretch between the Old RTO office in Ponda to the Old Goa including the Banastarim bridge and the stretch from Borim including the Borim bridge has also been given an in-principle approval.
Dhavalikar said that the estimates would be drawn up after the project reports are prepared and only then the estimated cost of the projects would be made known.
Dhavalikar also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completion of four years as Prime Minister and recalled the funds Goa has
Not right time to talk of
CM’s chair: Dhavalikar
PANAJI: PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has said it was not the right time to talk about the Chief Minister’s post even as he said that he would be ready for the responsibility if the people thrust it upon him. “I’ll be ready for it when it comes. At this stage it is not proper to talk about this,” Dhavalikar said referring to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s illness and consequent absence from the state.
Can construct 1 km ‘test track’ to allay Western bypass fears: Sudin
PANAJI
Minister of Public Works Sudin Dhavalikar has expressed his dismay that people continue to oppose the Western bypass in Margao whilst ignoring to the opinions of engineers who have designed the system to ensure that there is no flooding.
Speaking to media at a press conference, Dhavalikar said he was even ready to complete a 1-kilometre “test track” stretch of the highway to demonstrate that there will be no flooding and that they have planned the highway to not cause flooding even for eight days of continuous rain.
“We have studied Goa’s rainfall pattern and are even willing to tear up the one-kilometre portion if there is any flooding. If it doesn’t work then I will undo the entire stretch and then design it differently,” Dhavalikar said.
“Beyond this we are also going to be desilting River Sal, which will further reduce the flooding,” Dhavalikar said.
The Western bypass in Margao is facing opposition from locals who have demanded a bypass on stilts saying a road through the low-lying fields will cause flooding especially to the low-lying areas of Margao, Benaulim and surrounding areas.
Dhavalikar accused the people opposing the project of “not giving importance to the opinion of engineers” who are confident that the current designs will work.
