THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
A maximum of 6500 trees are likely to face the axe for the construction of the 22.10 km Bendurdem (Balli) to Polem (Canacona) NH-66 four-lane corridor to be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) of construction.
The ambitious Rs 952 crore project of four-laning from Bendordem, Manohar Parrikar Canacona Bypass (MPCB), to Polem on NH66 will be taken up immediately, and work in full swing will commence by October 2026, to be constructed in two and a half years.
Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar had convened a special presentation of the 22.1 km corridor alignment on the NH66 on Monday to invite public suggestions.
During the presentation, PWD Chief Engineer Dattaprasad Kamat, while responding to a specific query, stated 6,500 trees are earmarked for the project but added that not all 6,500 trees may be required to be felled considering the present alignment.
The 22.1 km corridor, which will have an elevated corridor to a length of 1.240 km (viaducts in the valley), will have in all 19 bus shelters, each equipped with a toilet and a tea shop. A toll plaza will be placed at Polem, approximately 400 metres from the Polem border checkpost, while the corridor will have additional facilities of public toilets, pedestrian-related facilities, tree plantations, high-mast streetlights, rainwater harvesting, utility duct crossings, emergency medical services/medical aid posts and highway patrol units/traffic aid posts.
A total of seven minor bridges will be constructed, including 4 reconstructions and 3 new bridges, and 78 culverts with an additional 5 box structures and 15 box & pipe culverts are each proposed for crossroads/field channels/canals.
There will be VUPs and approaches and 44 minor junctions. The viaduct of 1240 mtrs will be constructed at valley locations to avoid hill-cutting, while the corridor will have 6 service roads at Bendordem, Barcem and Agonda Road; a VUP at Gulem near Chapoli Dam Road; and a VUP at Loliem School.
The PWD (Highway) officials also stated that the traffic being handled on NH66 is between 11,288 and 22,345 PCU/day, as per the July 2023 figure.
One suggestion from the public included the need for an underpass for cattle and other needs at the Gulem sector and the Polem sector (near the proposed toll plaza) and an underpass for animals at the Padi area.
Another suggestion was put forth to improve the faulty and uneven parapet of the entire stretch of the existing 7.74 kms of MPCBR from Char-Rasta to Maxem.
Following suggestions, PWD officials agreed to hold further discussions and also fixed a date to finalise the suggested needs.
Officials Swapnil Desai and Preetesh Naik were present, amongst others, during the PowerPoint presentation. Others present included ZP (Poinguinim) Ajit (Ajay) Lolienkar, Sarpanchas of Shristhal, Loliem-Polem and Agonda, as well as a number of people from across Canacona taluka.
