PANAJI: Finally, January 1, 2016 is the day for laying of the foundation stone for the construction of the much-publicised six-lane bridge, parallel to the existing one across River Zuari. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar while announcing the date, also said that the work on the bridge was already underway, though laying of the stone had to be postponed on a number of occasions.
Guests in attendance for the ceremony on January 1 would be Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari as well as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and local ministers, Parsekar said, while adding, "We have also started work on the Cancona bypass.”
The foundation stone laying ceremony was initially slated for August 15 which was later pushed to December 19 and then to 26th the same month. The construction of the parallel Zuari bridge is part of a central government project estimated to cost Rs 1500 crore.
The central government has already sanctioned Rs 1,100 crore which would include a 5-km kilometer flyover that would culminate at Siridao.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar had said the bridge would have its own unique features that would help in attracting tourists to the state.
The Canacona bypass road is part of the Rs 80-crore project including the construction of three four-lane bridges across the rivers at Talpona, Galgibaga and Mashem.
