the goan I network
MAPUSA
Stating that ancillary works at the new Mapusa bus stand site will be taken up soon, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) Vice Chairman and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza said an amount of Rs 3 crore has been sanctioned by the government for the purpose.
As per the plans, works of asphalting and paving, construction of drainage, toilets, temporary shed and illumination will be taken up on an area of 10,000 sq metre facing the Carvalho Petrol Pump.
The total area for the construction of the proposed new bus stand is 20,000 sq metres.
The Mapusa MLA along with the project consultant, Rahul Deshpande, and officials of the GSIDC, transport department and KTC recently inspected the site and discussed various measures to be taken up to put the basic infrastructure in place.
Streamlining traffic
Besides discussing entry and exit options for the inter-state buses, the officials stressed plans to decongest the vehicular movement in the city.
“We will put basic infrastructure in place so that inter-state buses can be shifted to the site. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has granted special approval of Rs 3 crore for temporary upliftment of the bus stand project,” D’Souza said.
He said hopefully work can commence in the second week of February.
Officials in the know said that code of conduct for the Zilla Panchayat election could come in the way of starting the work immediately.
“We have decided to take up the work very soon, provided everything falls in place,” a senior official informed.
The cost of the new bus stand project was estimated to cost Rs 210 crore and was expected to be taken up through public private partnership model.
Time and again, the government has been making announcements of starting work on the new bus stand only to back track on the promises later.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho had assured the State Legislative Assembly in the monsoon session that foundation stone for the much awaited bus stand would be laid on October 4, 2019, on the birthday of the former Mapusa MLA, Francis D’Souza but only to renege on the promise.
It may be recalled land-filling of the acquired area for the proposed bus stand was taken up in 2015 as first phase of work at an estimated cost of Rs 1.32 crore.
In phase two, a 25-metre wide road was supposed to be constructed connecting the new bus stand to the NH66 about 200 metres before the Mapusa-Bastora junction while phase three included construction of the new bus stand and converting the present bus stand into a parking lot. For the last four years, however, there has been no progress whatsoever on the project.
