MARGAO
Even as the PWD, National Highways is bracing up to take up the ambitious project of four-laning of the Navelim-Cuncolim stretch of the NH66, beleaguered residents of Chinchinim knocked the doors of PWD Minister Digambar Kamat with a plea to build a road bypass at Dandeavaddo instead of a flyover.
The last ditch attempt made by the villagers assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that their repeated pleas made over the years in support of road bypass had fallen on deaf ears.
A delegation led by Chinchinim Sarpanch Frank Viegas, panchayat members and the residents of Dandeavaddo ward called on the PWD Minister at the Secretariat with a renewed plea to build the bypass instead of a flyover.
They explained to the PWD Minister that the road bypass will not only benefit the local residents and take care of the growing traffic requirements for the next 100 years, but pointed out that the road bypass will significantly reduce the cost of the four-lane project.
Armed with the NOCs given by the Comunidade bodies of Chinchinim and Deussua, the delegation impressed upon the PWD Minister to use his good offices with Union Minister for Road and Surface Transport, Nitin Gadkari in support of the demand for a road bypass.
The PWD Minister had invited the Chief Secretary, besides senior PWD officials to apprise him about the four-laning project from Navelim to Cuncolim with focus on the Chinchinim stretch.
The officials briefed the Minister that the Union government has already tendered the project and the work order has been issued to the contractor to execute the project on priority.
After giving the delegation a patient hearing, the PWD Minister told the PWD Principal Chief Engineer to prepare a note on the matter so that he would take up the issue with the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The delegation pointed out that a work order has been issued to the contractor to start the project, and work on the Dandeavaddo stretch could be undertaken at a later stage after completing the land acquisition formalities.
Chinchinim Sarpanch Frank Viegas told The Goan on Saturday that the delegation tried to impress upon the PWD Minister how the road bypass will not only benefit the local residents but will reduce the overall cost of the project.
When contacted, Kamat told The Goan that the Navelim-Cuncolim four-laning project was tendered and the work order issued to the contractor before he became the PWD Minister. Saying that the contractor has mobilised the machinery to start the work on the project, Kamat said he has asked the PWD Principal Chief Engineer to prepare a note on the demand raised by the people of Chinchinim.
