Gadkari announces flyover at Panzorconne, rejects Dandeavaddo plan
The Dandeavaddo stretch of NH66, which will play host to a bypass as per Minister Nitin Gadkari’s announcement on highway expansion project.
MARGAO
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari’s announcement of the NH66 expansion from Navelim to Cuncolim has brought good news and comes as a relief to Yuri Alemao, the Leader of Opposition representing the Cuncolim constituency.
Gadkari’s announcement, however, is no news at all for the neighbouring Velim MLA Cruz Silva and the villagers of Chinchinim, as the Union Ministry has not accepted the demand of the people of Dandeavaddo to build a road bypass instead of an elevated corridor.
As news of Gadkari’s announcement tricked in on Saturday morning, it became apparent that the Opposition leader has finally prevailed upon the double engine BJP government to build a flyover at the entrance to Cuncolim town at Panzorconne, which is expected to mollify the local residents opposing the highway expansion close to their residential houses.
If officials are to be believed, the flyover at Cuncolim will start exactly at the entrance to Panzorconne and will join the highway near the defunct NUSI hospital.
The BJP government’s decision further implies that the proposed flyover will save Yuri from attacks from the opponents in the constituency. For, Yuri had kick-started his political career around five years ago by opposing the government’s plans to expand the existing NH66 through Panzoconne. In fact, he along with the residents of Panzorconne had demanded to build Cuncolim bypass, from Sarzora village, running parallel to the Konkan Railway tracks, before the bypass joins the National Highway at Balli.
As it finally turned out, the government has rejected the proposal of building the Cuncolim bypass from Sarzora along the railway tracks. Instead, the Cuncolim bypass will start near the Uskini bandh, just metres before the Cuncolim bus stand, before the road heads to Sanvorcotto, Comba Parricotto before it meets the NH at Balli.
However, in an apparent bid to keep at bay any opposition to the NH expansion project, Gadkari has given the flyover at Panzorconne.
Reacting to the development, Yuri said, “We had urged Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to save houses of Velim and also of Cuncolim, while approving 4-laning stretch (NH66) from Margao to Cuncolim. Villagers of Cuncolim got relief, but Velim is made to suffer. Government needs to relook into the issue and help people of Velim,” Alemao said.
Local leaders ask govt to reconsider Dandeavaddo flyover plan
MARGAO: As Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s announcement on the Navelim-Cuncolim Highway expansion project has ruled out a road bypass at Dandeavaddo in Chinchinim village, Velim MLA Cruz Silva, besides Chinchinim Sarpanch Frank Viegas has requested Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to reconsider the decision to build a flyover at Dandeavaddo instead of a road bypass.
Leaders of Opposition Yuri Alemao also urged Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to reconsider the alignment of NH-66 passing from Dandeavaddo, Chinchinim in Velim constituency as it would impact negatively on local residents.
“We had urged Nitin Gadkari to save houses of Velim and also of Cuncolim, while approving 4-laning stretch (NH66) from Margao to Cuncolim. Villagers of Cuncolim got relief, but Velim is made to suffer. Government needs to relook into the issue and help people of Velim,” Alemao said.
“Several times this issue was raised, but the government failed to take suggestions of villagers from Dandeavaddo, Chinchinim. I also urge Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to help people of Velim by protecting their structures, while this highway project is implemented,” Yuri added.
Velim MLA Cruz dashed off a letter to the Chief Minister to reconsider the proposed NH-66 Expansion Project in the Dandeavaddo-Chinchinim area. “The residents of Dandeavaddo and surrounding villages have expressed concerns about the potential negative impacts of this project on their communities. It has come to our attention that the proposed alignment has faced opposition from the affected villages, and there are significant apprehensions about the detrimental effects it may have on the residents,” Cruz said.
He said exploring a bypass option at Dandeavaddo would be a more suitable solution that addresses the needs of the community while ensuring efficient infrastructure development.
Chinchinim Sarpanch Frank Viegas said he does not know whether the Union Minister’s announcement is a great news or terrible news for the villagers of Dandeavaddo, Chinchinim, coming as it does during the festive season.
The Sarpanch, however, expressed hope that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will meet the demands of the villagers to have a road bypass at Dandeavaddo instead of a flyover.
