PANAJI
Ahead of upcoming construction of an elevated corridor at Porvorim, the State government has decided to undertake internal road widening work for execution of traffic diversion.
The project, estimated at Rs 35 crore, approved by the Cabinet will also include replacing old electricity poles and shifting of water pipelines, to evade damages, along the road stretches.
The traffic department has already begun a week-long traffic diversion experiment for heavy vehicles entering Goa with non-essential items by diverting their movement via Banda-Sanquelim-Ponda road to minimise inconvenience to other commuters during the construction of the flyover.
Sources informed that before implementing the traffic diversion plan, the government has decided to undertake various works including widening of internal roads, putting up signages, electricity poles, realignment of approaches, hot mixing, etc at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore. Sources said that the proposal has already got cabinet approval and that 15 works would be taken up on nomination basis while tenders would be floated for three other works.
The works include new hot-mixed road from Damian de Goa to Chogm road, Guirim cross to Monte Guirim and near Saligao football ground, Chogm road, new sewerage line along O Coqueiro junction, Porvorim tisk and Chogm road, traffic diversion signages at Calangute, Saligao, Aldona, shifting of water pipelines in Porvorim and internal areas and others.
“We just cannot divert the traffic unless the infrastructure is in place. The project will take at least two years and till then the diversion will be in place,” sources said.
Last month, Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stone for for Rs 474.64 crore elevated six-lane highway corridor at Porvorim. Rajasthan based Rajendra Singh Bhamboo Infra Private Ltd (RSBIPL) has begged the tender for construction of elevated corridor (flyover) on the NH-66 (formerly National Highway 17) between Guirim and Porvorim.
The project on NH-66 is being funded by the Union ministry, which has sanctioned Rs 641.4 crore for its construction and its approaches. The project was sanctioned in 2022-23.
The elevated road is expected to be 5.2 km long and the approaches will start at Sangolda junction at one end and Neo-Majestic hotel on the other end. According to the tender, the work has to be completed within 24 months of issuance of work order.
