the goan I network
MAPUSA
Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar’s absence has hurt the city of Mapusa and it is showing.
Plans on crucial projects which had the blessing of the chief minister has either come to a standstill or failed to take off.
For a city where development was a drag, Parrikar had given a new hope during his famous visits to the city last October.
During his visits, the CM had made a host of promises such as re-development of municipal market, kick-starting work on new bus-stand, constructing four-lane bridge across Tar river and calling for estimates of underground power cabling for Mapusa.
FOUR LANE TAR BRIDGE: After getting a green signal from the CM’s office, PWD had drawn up plans to fast track work on the four-lane Tar bridge.
As per the project report the four-lane bridge of 30 metre span was expected to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 8.46 crore which included channelization, protective measures, illumination and construction of traffic islands on both sides of the bridge.
The old (present) bridge was supposed to be demolished and a new bridge was supposed to be completed within a year as per the plans.
NEW BUS-STAND: Similarly, Parrikar had promised to clear the file of the new bus-stand within 10 days and to immediately start preliminary work on it.
In the first phase only land filling of the area demarcated for the bus-stand was completed. Later the construction plan was halted because the CM had plans to build the bus-stand on PPP (public-private-partnership) model.
“Nothing can be done on the bus-stand project since the CM has to take a final call on it. Transport department was ready to build the bus-stand but the CM has other plans. The work can start only after CM’s arrival,” Urban Development Minster and Mapusa MLA, Francis D’Souza had told The Goan.
RE-DEVELOPMENT OF MARKET: With an eye on the municipal market, Parrikar had made provision of Rs 20 crore in the last budget for redevelopment of the Mapusa market.
Mapusa Municipal Council, Chairperson, Rohan Kavlekar informed that all the permissions have been obtained and all the paper work has been completed.
The project has remained stuck for obvious reasons.
UNDERGROUND POWER CABLING: The CM had directed the electricity department to conduct a feasibility report for underground cabling of power lines in the city.
He had asked the power officials to prepare a report in such a way so as to avoid digging of roads wherever possible by suggesting putting the cables under the footpaths.
Directing the power officials to replace all the old and weak electricity poles in the city the CM in one of his visits had enquired on the progress of setting up two new power sub-stations at Badem, Assagao and Carras-vaddo, Mapusa.
“Obviously, Mapusa misses Parrikar. If one recalls, when Mapusa MLA was away on treatment, the CM had taken a lot of initiatives for the development of Mapusa. Now, with his absence no one can take those decisions. People were enthused that some work will happen,” said Adv Mahesh Rane, a resident of Khorlim.
Former Speaker and Mapusa MLA, Surendra Sirsat said that in the absence of the CM his colleagues were not able to deliver.
“It appears all development works have come to a halt. Let us hope the CM will come back and work with the same enthusiasm as before. Mapusa’s hope hinges on him,” Sirsat said.
