the goan I network
MARGAO
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai had last week offered a ray of hope for the beleaguered bar owners when he announced government’s plans to notify the Eastern bypass as the NH-17, but National Highway officials sing an altogether
different tune.
A senior National Highway official told The Goan that the Eastern bypass between Nuvem and Rawanfond is not a bypass in the strict sense of the term, adding that the so-called bypass cannot qualify for a National Highway.
On the contrary, the NH official reiterated that the best option for the Manohar Parrikar-led government to save the beleaguered bar and liquor outlets in Margao, Canacona, Ponda and Vasco is to expedite work on the ongoing work on the bypasses in these towns and knock the doors of the Supreme Court with a review petition, drawing the court’s attention
to these bypasses under
construction.
“A couple of bar and restaurant owners approached me for my opinion after the TCP Minister announced government’s plan to notify the Eastern bypass as NH-17. That will not take place. The so called Eastern bypass is not notified as a bypass at all. This road starts at Nuvem and ends at the Rawanfond traffic circle, without any connectivity to the National Highway. Till the city has a bypass, the existing NH-17 passing through the city will continue to be the National Highway,” the
official said.
He pointed out that since work on the Western bypass is presently underway, the government can move the Supreme Court with a review petition, seeking
exemption in respect of the order banning liquor outlets within 500 metres from the National Highway and State highway.
“As per the Indian Road Congress, a National Highway cannot pass through a city and hence bypasses are built across the towns and cities. The Western bypass is one such bypass which can be shown as the NH-17. Similarly, the bypasses under construction at Ponda, Vasco and Canacona can also be shown as the National Highway bypasses to seek exemption from the
Supreme Court order,” the
official added.
