CANACONA
Amol Birasdar Patil, OSD to the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, on Wednesday inspected the accident-prone NH66 highway at Gulem, and examined the traffic island on the Manohar Parrikar Canacona Bypass Road (MPCBR) for the proposed statue of Chatrapati Shivaji.
According to sources, Patil first inspected the treacherous turn at Karmalghat in the presence of Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, officials of the PWD (Highways) and others. On observing the overall situation at Karmalghat section of NH66, Patil is learnt to have commented that the width of the road is too narrow and is responsible for frequent mishaps. Patil was later shown the Gulem section of NH66 highway, where many vehicles have fallen off the road.
At this section too, the union minister’s OSD observed much of the Gulem section of NH66 road has no setback and the road has dangerous edges, leading to vehicles falling off the road.
Patil also informed that more inspections would be held and works would be expedited on top priority.
“I will convey the message to Union Minister for Transport Nitin Gadkari and will expedite this matter as early as possible as the road situation is very dangerous,” Patil reportedly informed after the inspections.
Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Ramakant Naik Gaonkar, PWD Assistant Engineer Sagar Shet, AE (Rtd) Subhash Pagi, PS to Speaker Rajendra Borkar, Shristhal ex-Sarpanch Ganesh Velip, Gulem Panch members Akshada Velip and Nilesh J Gaonkar, GCA Vice-President Shambha Naik Desai and social worker Samrat Bhagat were also present during the road inspection.
Tawadkar and others present then led the OSD to Char-Rasta, where he was shown the traffic island earmarked for the proposed statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Canacona.
Patil examined the venue and said the union minister is committed to complete the structural plan to set up Shivaji’s statute.
Besides Tawadkar and CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naik Gaonkar, several Shiv Premi were present during the site examination.
Last month, Tawadkar along with the CMC Chairperson had gone to Delhi to meet Gadkari with a request to examine and prepare a structural plan to erect a statue of Chatrapati Shivaji at the Traffic Island of Manohar Parrikar Canacona Bypass Road at Char-Rasta
The union minister has also assured quick action to remove the traffic bottlenecks on the NH66 highway in Canacona, especially at the accident-prone Karmalghat road and Gulem section, besides expediting land acquisition for the 4-lane work between Gulem and Bendurdem stretch of the NH66.
