the goan I network
PANAJI
A unique wooden walkway installed above marshy land along the Ourem creek by the side of the Mandovi was thrown open to the public on Monday.
Built in the midst of the ecologically important Mangroves, this walkway will serve as a recreational area as well as an educational experience as it will have information displayed about the importance of mangroves along the pathway.
The completed first phase of the walkway has been built at an expenditure of Rs 2.27 crores. In the second phase, the walkway will be extended to the new Patto bridge along the riverside.
The project was taken up by the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited under the AMRUT mission of the Central Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
“These projects set an example that development can be achieved without harming the environment,” Urban development Minister Francis D’Souza said after inaugurating the project.
This 1.5 kms long walkway project, which can be accessed from behind the Sanskriti Bhavan or the central library building at Patto Panaji is one of the only projects in India.
“This will be like an open-air mangrove museum,” GSIDC vice-chairman Siddharth Kuncalienkar said.
A natural storm protector, erosion arrester, water purifier, breeding ground for water species, mangroves are an ecologically-vital plant which Goa’s riverside has in abundance.
Dean D’cruz is the architect of this walkway who’s foundation is made up of Jamba wood, with teak wood beams and floor of composite material used in marinas.
The walkway will be useful to tourists, environmental studies students, central library visitors, fitness enthusiasts, leisure-seeking youth, middle aged and senior strollers. There are also teakwood benches fitted along the boardwalk to allow visitors to relax and enjoy the beauty of the mangroves.
