the goan I network
VASCO
Faced with mounting objections to a proposed 22-km diversion as part of efforts to close a portion of the highway at Cortalim to complete the bridge work, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Wednesday said two internal routes were being explored in the area to cut short the distance of the proposed traffic diversion.
Dhavalikar was speaking to reporters after he along with Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and officials of PWD and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) inspected the area for alternate routes for the second time since Sunday.
During their inspection on Sunday, the ministers and officials had inspected internal roads in Dabolim constituency and one of them had included an internal road from Valles Junction and proceeding towards St Jacinto Island and Cortalim Circle, which would cut short the diversion to 14 kms.
Speaking to reporters after their inspection on Wednesday, Dhavalikar said Saldanha had told him on Monday that there are other internal roads from Cortalim constituency, which would further cut down the distance of the diversion on both routes.
In a bid to survey other
internal routes, Dhavalikar, Saldanha and the officials inspected the route via Kesarval, Thane, Cortalim ferry point and the Cortalim Junction.
The team then proceeded to another internal road near Shantadurga temple, where there is a motorable road at a bundh. They further proceeded to a route near the Konkan Railway bridge, where a service road is present.
Speaking to reporters, the PWD minister said there were two optional and shorter internal routes to divert traffic.
“There is a plan to divert two-wheelers and four-wheelers plying along the Panaji-Margao route from the Cortalim Circle to the Cortalim ferry point, Thane, Curpawaddo, Velwawaddo, Kesarval and Verna. This will only be a 4.5-km diversion,” said Dhavalikar.
Referring to the two-wheelers and four-wheelers plying along the Margao-Panaji route, Dhavalikar said these vehicles could turn to the left near Sharayu Toyota at Verna and proceed towards Pajentar (near R K Marble), Service Road of Konkan Railway and finally to Cortalim junction.
“This route will be only be a 2-km diversion,” he said.
“We have identified these options and will work on the plans over the next few days. If we pursue these options, we will need to take permission from Konkan Railway and other arrangements will also have to be done.”
“I will also need to speak to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and other ministers concerned in this connection,” Dhavalikar added.
Seeking to reiterate that no route had been finalised as of now, Dhavalikar said: “Till the time we do not find any viable option to minimise inconvenience to motorists and commuters, we will not close the road between the Cortalim circle and Sharayu Toyota showroom.”
