The goan I network
VASCO
Urban Development minister Milind Naik on Saturday clarified that the works on the balance portion of the four-lane highway port connectivity project was slowed down due to technical issues and not funds.
Naik said that very soon a high level meeting would be taken up at the central level to draw a solution while appealing to the people to write to the PMO, who were till recently monitoring the project and explained the importance of the project.
Naik said that once the project is completed, it will benefit Vasco by decongestion of traffic and will also offer an exit from Vasco city in times of need. “There was a deviation in the project and an additional works of Rs 90 crore was taken up, but despite this additional amount, it is well within the original estimates and has not exceeded the original sanctioned cost amounting to RS 540 crore and hence technically, there is no requirement of an additional sanction. Because of some issues of payment calculations due to the deviation, the work has slowed down as of now. As per the original plan, the cost of the port connectivity project was to be shared between NHAI, Goa government and MPT. Goa Government is the implementing agency that must execute as per the requirement of the PWD. I have spoken to Sawant and relevant ministers. Very soon there will be a joint meeting between NHAI, Goa government (PWD) and MPT at the centre and a solution will be taken up.” “After discussing with former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar, I had proposed an up ramp from hotel Maharaja connecting it to the four lane highway. There is some misunderstanding that the up ramp is going to the port but I want to strictly clarify that the ramp is for an exit from the city. The main benefit of this project to Vasco is that vehicles arriving in Vasco need not use the same road to go out and can use this ramp to exit thus solving 50 percent of the vehicular traffic problem in the city. The project will reduce congestion in Vasco by a significant percent. The up ramp works are also pending as of now,” added Naik.
“This project was till recently being monitored by the prime minister’s office. Today a lot of people are writing to me asking me the status and requesting me to expedite the works. I am trying my level best to expedite this project at my level. I appeal to the people to write to the PMO to inform them that the project has slowed down and also explain the importance of the project and request them to expedite this project for the benefit of Vasco,” said Naik.
