MARGAO
Over a decade after the eyesore was rid off around the iconic Margao Municipal Council garden, the iron railings around the it and the square are set to make a comeback again.
Reason: The height of the National Highway road around the Margao Municipal garden has come on par with the garden footpath, posing risk and danger to the pedestrians from the heavy traffic.
While the PWD had two options at its disposal to either raise the garden footpath or erect a railing to protect the pedestrians, it has been decided to go in for the railings around the garden to protect the people from accidents.
This was decided after an inspection of the garden by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat with officials of the PWD and Margao Municipal Council after citizens raised concern.
“I received many complaints from citizens that the garden footpath and the road around the garden are at the same level now posing danger to the pedestrians. We had two options with us, either to raise the footpath or erect an iron railing. We have decided to go in for the iron railing since it is not feasible to raise the height of the garden footpath since people sit on the benches”, he said.
While saying the Margao Municipal Council has been told to prepare estimates for the iron railings, he, however, said that he would dispatch a letter to the PWD, National Highway, that the agency should scrap the existing hot mixing before putting a new coat to ensure the road and the adjoining footpath do not come at the same level.
“The next time, the PWD, NH takes up the hotmixing work around the MMC garden, they will have to put in the cost estimate of removing the existing hot mix”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Margao MLA had a meeting to review the status of the six-lane Rawanfond bridge and the beautification of the Aquem Ring road project. “The six-lane Rawanfond bridge tender will now be placed before the GSIDC Board for approval. Work will start on the project after the Board gives the nod”, he added.
Saying the beautification of the Aquem ring road stretch will be completed at the earliest, Kamat further said the GSIDC will soon take up the beautification of the Rawanfond-Khareband bridge in the near future.
On Sonsodo, he said that GSUDA officials has inspected the Sonsodo plant, adding that he would hold a meeting with the officials in Panaji on Monday. He also insisted that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant convene a meeting of the High Powered Coordination Committee on Sonsodo to overcome the minor issues on waste management.
