ACCORDING TO
DHAVALIKAR ...
>> Only after this road is complete the traffic diversion will be undertaken. The diversion will only be of 2.5 kms extra >> The road alignment comes in railway zone, it is parallel to the railway track, we will make that
proper road in two months
>> All permission and lease agreement will be made with the Konkan railways and whatever required clearances will also be taken
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THE MEETING
The decision was taken at a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and traffic diversion put off for two months until the road is constructedNOTIFICATION
A final notification to this effect is to be issued after taking local ministers, MLAs, and local bodies into confidence, says Dhavalikar----------------------------------------------------
PANAJI: The State government on Tuesday finally arrived at a decision to construct a parallel road along the railway tracks and avoid a 22-km long diversion from Cortalim circle via Chicalim as proposed earlier. The decision was taken at a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and traffic diversion put off for two months until the road is constructed.
The new road to be constructed will carry one direction of traffic from Margao headed to Panaji at a distance of 2.5 kms starting from the Verna slope. It will also include two culvert bridges and is expected to take two months to complete. Total cost is estimated to be Rs 15 crore including strengthening of the existing Cortalim-Kesarval road which will carry traffic from Panaji to Margao.
A final notification to this effect is to be issued after taking local ministers, MLAs, and local bodies into confidence, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said.
“Whatever we decided when we visited along with the local MLA of Cortalim Alina Saldanha and the road alignment which she showed us (will be implemented), that comes in railway zone, it is parallel to the railway track, we will make that proper road in two months,” Dhavalikar said.
“As soon as you reach the old Cortalim road, along the left side there is a turn and all along, parallel to the railway it will go straight to the (railway) overhead bridge at the Vasco-Chicalim road (near the Cortalim circle). Then you take a right and proceed to Zuari bridge. Only after this road is complete the traffic diversion will be undertaken. The diversion will only be of 2.5 kms extra and all permission and lease agreement will be made with the Konkan railways and whatever required clearances will also be taken,” Dhavalikar added.
Earlier Dhavalikar clarified that while the work is going on, the onus is on the government to provide free access to walk and hindrance-free environment at the work site.
“As per the clause we have to acquire 60 meters of land, but we have acquired only 30 meters. Had we acquired 60 meters, many houses in Cortalim and nearby areas would have been affected. We saved almost 150 houses by acquiring less area. I am thankful to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for permitting us to acquire only 30 meters. No where such relaxation has been given.” Dhavalikar had said.
The original contract’s fine print puts the onus on the State government and not Dilip Buildcon, the contractor. A senior official of Dilip Buildcon asserted that the contract signed with the government includes a condition that the government will have to provide traffic diversion land.
Atul Joshi, vice president, Dilip Buildcon, said, “Two years ago when we signed the contract with the government, it had a specific condition saying that the government will have to provide diversion land. Until now, diversion land has not been provided.”
Dhavalikar had earlier claimed that they would not want to delay the bridge’s timelines and would finish the bridge by December 2019. That looks increasingly unlikely.
