OPTION-1
Going ahead with the work without road closure or traffic diversion by providing a service road of ten-metres width on either side of the current highway
OPTION-2
Close the road and divert traffic on an experimental basis for say a month, to practically ascertain the difficulty levels and problems for traffic movement----------------------------------------------------------
The pros and cons of all the options will be documented. It will also be placed before Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and a final decision will then be taken
- Sudin Dhavalikar
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PANAJI: Taken aback by the public reaction, the government on Friday said it will not take a decision until January 16 on the proposed closure of a 4-kilometre stretch of the National Highway-66 (formerly NH-17) sought by the contractor - Dilip Buildcon - to proceed with the next phase of work on the under-construction eight-lane Zuari Bridge.
PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavlikar made the announcement after chairing a meeting with PWD top brass, police officials, Collectors and deputy collectors, besides representatives of the Dilip Buildcon at the State Secretariat on Friday afternoon.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and Aldona MLA Glenn Souza Ticlo also participated in the discussions at the meeting.
"There are several options we will explore before taking a decision, including going ahead with the work without road closure or traffic diversion by providing a service road of ten-metres width on either side of the current highway along the stretch that needs to be shut down," Dhavlikar told the media after the meeting.
He said, he along with Sardesai, Godinho, Saldanha and officials will hold a site visit on Sunday to find out if 10 metres of land on either side of the road is available for the service road,.
"Revenue and agriculture officials have been instructed to conduct surveys and check if any houses and fields will be affected and how best to get the farmers and residents compensated either temporarily or permanently to get them on board," Dhavlikar said.
Another option is to close the road and divert traffic on an experimental basis for say a month, to practically ascertain the difficulty levels and problems for traffic movement and improvise the arrangement accordingly for the longer one year closure, Dhavlikar said.
The PWD Minister insisted that it is necessary that no traffic or human movement takes place in the working area when carrying out the next phase of erecting the 28-metre wide decks on the piers of the eight-lane bridge.
"It is necessary for the sake of public safety and of human life," Dhavlikar said.
He said, more meetings could possibly held after Sunday's site inspection.
"The pros and cons of all the options will be documented. It will also be placed before Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and a final decision will then be taken," Dhavlikar said.
Sardesai, meanwhile, said interests of local agriculturists as well as commuters likely to be affected will be borne in mind before a definite decision is taken.
