the goan I network
MARGAO
The long-delayed Western bypass project is all set to be partly commissioned -- 5.7 km stretch between Verna and the Margao wholesale fish market -- by the National Highways Authority of India, but it’s still unclear whether the authorities have assessed the impact of the filling of land on the flood-prone Nuvem-Seraulim stretch.
Also, the issues concerning the 2.75 km problematic stretch between the wholesale fish market and Varca remain unresolved, with the government yet to take a firm stand on the construction of the this stretch on stilts.
The NHAI appears all set to permit traffic on the Verna-wholesale fish market road in the immediate future.
NHAI Executive Engineer Laxmikant Naik informed that the entire 5.7-km Verna-Margao wholesale fish market stretch of the road is tarred and the traffic will start plying here in the near future. “The NHAI will soon write to the traffic department to allow traffic on the Verna-Margao wholesale fish market road in the near future. Opening of the stretch will reduce traffic load on the Margao-Nuvem-Verna stretch of the highway,” Naik said.
He, however, said that the government will take a call on the 2.75 km stretch of the bypass passing through the floodplains of Seraulim and Benaulim. “Presently, the consultant is on the job to assess the situation and a report is expected soon. It’s for the government to take a call on the question whether to build the bypass on stilts or not,” he added.
Meanwhile, though the floodplains of river Sal, especially along the Nuvem-Seraulim-Benaulim stretch, were inundated with water during the recent rains, it’s not clear whether the PWD, NHAI had carried out any study on the flood situation.
A senior PWD official sought to attribute the inundation of the Mungul-Seraulim-Benaulim stretch to the heavily silted river Sal, saying that the overflowing water from the river Sal was the prime reason behind the flooding of the low-lying areas of the three villages.
Villagers of Seraulim and Benaulim, besides Mungul, have been demanding construction of the Western bypass passing through their villages on stilts, fearing that filling of land may submerge the low-lying areas in the future.
Incidentally, despite the fact that Deputy CM Vijai Sardesai has come out openly in favour of stilts, the government has been dragging its feet in conceding to the demand on grounds that stilts will result in huge cost.
Of the total 11-km stretch of the bypass, only the Verna-Margao wholesale fish market road is complete. The Navelim-Telaulim stretch remains incomplete, while work on the balance 2.75 kms Benaulim-Seraulim-Mungul stretch is yet to get underway due to strong demands by the local population to build the bypass on stilts.
