M Venkat Rao Infra bags multi-crore tenderrrBY GERARD DE SOUZArPANAJIrrOfficials in the state PWD Department have informed that, the tentative drawings of the elevated corridor which will begin some distance after the Ticlo fuel pump and descend after the Mall de Goa junction, have been submitted to the National Highways Authority of India and in all likelihood will be approved as they are.r“The tender has been opened and the work has been awarded to a consortium led by M Venkat Rao Infra Projects Pvt Ltd. However the final formalities of the acceptance of the work are on. We expect that the work will begin after the monsoons, but there could be a delay,” PWD officials said.rThe construction of the project is one of the most significant challenges facing the current dispensation, with officials conceding that given the scale of the work to be undertaken, this stretch of the project could well miss the deadline of 2020.r“The biggest challenge is the securing a work space along the existing highway during the phase of construction. It will not be possible even if we acquire 15 metres on either side of the existing road for certain stretches. The process of acquisition is on,” the officials have informed.rThe PWD confirmed that the project is being funded entirely by the centre including the cost of land acquisition which is partly why the government is reluctant to acquire much land in Porvorim given the costs involved.rThe elevated corridor will have no ramps along its route and will be solely for the purpose of ferrying traffic across the several junctions that line that stretch of the highway including the Socorro junction, the Dr Pinto Rosario junction, the JMJ hospital junction, the Porvorim Church junction, the O Coqueiro junction and the Mall de Goa junction.rThe existing road that runs towards Panaji and is currently one way would be widened and made two way thereby ensuring that the elevated corridor is not split at the mall.rThe plan also indicate that in the Guirim to Socorro stretch new lanes will come to the east side of the existing highway leaving the coconut trees as a median.rAccording to plans, the project includes nine vehicular underpases at Naibag, Pernem, Dhargal, Colvale central jail, Durgawadi, Patradevi and Torxem. Besides this, there will be four flyovers at the Mopa junction, Binani factory in Colvale, Carrasvaddo, Peddem, and hotel Green Park besides the elevated corridor in Porvorim. The total expenditure of the project is expected to work out to more than Rs 2,237 crore. rr This stretch of project could miss the deadline of 2020 considering the scale of the work to be undertaken, the officials feel r The biggest challenge is the securing of a work space along the existing highway during the phase of construction, say the officialsr According to them, it will not be possible even if we acquire 15 metres on either side of the existing road for certain stretchesrrPORVORIM PARISH TO OPPOSE LAND rACQUISITION FOR NH WIDENINGrr An estimated 1,000 families affiliated to the Holy Family Church at Porvorim have begun a massive signature campaignr They are objecting to the proposed acquisition of church property for proposed widening of NH-17 at Porvorim
Elevated Porvorim corridor work could get going in Oct
Initial work on a 3.5 kilometre-long four lane elevated corridor to be constructed from Socorro right up to the Tarun Bharat printing press could commence as early as after the monsoons with the central government in the final stages of awarding the work to the winning tender.
