the goan I network
MARGAO
The Congress on Monday opposed the closure of the National Highway at Cortalim for a year to carry out Zuari bridge work, with party South district president Joe Dias saying the contractor is mandated to provide alternate road bypasses around the construction site as per the tender documents.
Flanked by district vice-president Deepak Kharangate and PCC member Damu Shirodkar, Dias reminded the government that the tenders for major construction works carry a special fund for the construction of approach roads during the construction work. “In this particular case, an attempt is being made by the contractor in collusion with the BJP-led government to close the highway for a year and pocket the special fund mentioned in the tender,” he alleged.
The district president pointed out that diversion of traffic on the Margao-Panaji highway by 22 kms is not acceptable at all, saying the Congress workers will oppose any move by the contractor to go for the closure of the existing highway for a year. “Has the contractor carried out a survey whether the Verna-Vasco road will be able to take the huge load of traffic in case of a diversion,” Joe demanded to know.
The district president sought to know whether the contractor or the authorities have taken into account the impact the decision on the diversion will have on the Hospicio patients, who are shifted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim many times a day. “Do you think any patient who is shifted to the GMC from Hospicio will reach the hospital after travelling an additional 22 kms,” he sought to know, while demanding that the contractor build a parallel road to take care of the requirements.
PCC member Damu Shirodkar said the Congress party is opposed to the diversion of national highway traffic via the Verna-airport road. “Presently, it takes two and half hours to reach Panaji when the district ought to have been covered within 45-60 minutes. Just imagine the situation if the traffic is diverted along the Verna-Airport road,” Damu added.
