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PORVORIM
Addressing media persons at Porvorim, Kunkolienkar said reports in some newspapers on Wednesday that the work on the bridge had come to a standstill following directives of the National Green Tribunal was “absolutely false.”
“Some disgruntled elements are trying to spread false rumours about the project. GSIDC has taken permissions from all agencies concerned as required under the rules in force. GSIDC has obtained permission from Coastal Zone Management Authorities twice and National Institute of Oceanography has done the morphological study of the pillars of the bridge.”
“Work on the two pillars is nearing completion. As far as remaining two pillars are concerned, the work of laying pier caps is in progress and these two pillars will be ready by December,” said Kunkolienkar.
He further said construction work of all pillars from Porvorim side has been completed and the work to lay segments on the pillars with the help of launching girdle is in progress.
“These segments are being readied at Dhargal. Once this bridge is ready, nearly 35 to 40% of the Mapusa-Panjim vehicular traffic will pass through this bridge and traffic congestion at Porvorim will automatically get reduced.”
When reminded that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had recently stated that the third Mandovi bridge would be completed by December 2017, Kunkolienkar said efforts are being made to complete the bridge before the next monsoon.
“The bridge will be ready by May 2017, but other works like lighting and other finishing work would be completed later,” he said.
