PANAJI
Equating the elevated viewers’ gallery at the Zuari bridge with the renowned splendour of the Eiffel tower in Paris, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday laid down yet another vision for Goa.
Speaking at the function in Panaji organised to mark the inauguration of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s central election office, Gadkari said that Goa should work towards developing a water taxi network connecting coastal resorts to the two airports, while also urging the ruling BJP to work towards scaling down sound, air and water pollution in the state and bringing it on par with international standards.
“Once completed, the Zuari bridge will be a state of the art project for Goa. The Eiffel tower is a centre of attraction for the world, I had wished in the same way, a viewer gallery should be constructed atop the bridge’s tower,”
Gadkari said.
“Tourists from the world over will visit the viewers’ gallery and witness the splendour of Goa from the high reaches of the gallery,” the Union Minister also said.
The Union Minister also said that he had another dream for Goa, which involved investing heavily in developing waterways which he said would help reduce sound, air and water pollution in Goa.
“I had a dream. It is not fulfilled yet. Most hotels in Goa are located along the coastline. One should be able to travel from hotels to both the airports via water taxi. The infrastructure is already ready,” he said.
“If we start a water taxi in Goa, water, air and sound pollution in Goa will reduce and Goa will be the first pollution-free state in the country. We should mention this in our manifesto because the people in Goa are receptive,” he said.
Gadkari also lauded the state government for purchasing 100 electric buses to be added to its state transport corporation fleet, adding that the government should work towards developing international benchmarks for controlling pollution.
“I am happy that you got 100 electric buses. The government should measure where Goa is (currently) as per international benchmarks vis a vis air, water and sound pollution. If we take such measures, in the next five years, we will drop down further in the international benchmarks. This is the confidence we need to give to the people,” he also said.
