PANAJI: The Porvorim Elevated Corridor will open to vehicular traffic from 4 pm on September 11, giving motorists access to the 5.5-km, six-lane stretch just two days before Ganesh Chaturthi, PWD Minister Digambar Kamat announced on Sunday. The completed corridor will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on September 9.
Explaining the inauguration arrangements, Kamat said the ceremony will be held at the Majestic Hotel side, where the corridor begins. Gadkari will cut the ribbon before proceeding to the main stage at the Guirim entrance, where seating has been arranged for the public. The government expects around 3,000 to 4,000 people to attend the event.
Dedicated access has been provided for the media, while buses will drop visitors at designated points and turn back. Guests and ministers arriving from the Panaji side will have access until around 30 minutes before the ribbon-cutting, after which the route will be closed from that side.
Following the inauguration, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and four to five MLAs are expected to travel along the corridor in a vehicle at 4 pm on September 11 to formally commence vehicular traffic.
Before vehicles are allowed, the corridor will be opened exclusively to pedestrians on September 7 and 8. People will be allowed to walk on the bridge, sit, take selfies and even organise marathons.
“No scooters, four-wheelers or other vehicles will be permitted on the bridge before the official inauguration,” Kamat said. The only exception will be the official vehicle used for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Kamat said the project, originally scheduled for completion in December, was expedited to ensure it was ready before Ganesh Chaturthi and facilitate the movement of people transporting Ganesh idols.
“The people of Porvorim, Saligao and Mapusa have endured a lot of inconvenience while the bridge construction work was going on, yet they extended their full cooperation. Because of this cooperation, we were able to complete it ahead of schedule,” he said.
The minister said the service roads on both sides of the corridor are also in good condition. On the installation of AI cameras, Kamat said the project falls under the National Highway framework, and its specifications cannot be altered by the state government.
“It is the National Highway policy to install AI cameras, and accordingly, AI cameras will be installed,” he said.
The sanctioned cost of the project is Rs 641.46 crore, while the awarded tender cost is Rs 364.68 crore, which is 23.7 per cent below the sanctioned amount. The contract was awarded to RRSM Infra Private Limited.
Kamat said the minute-to-minute programme for the September 9 inauguration will be finalised once it is received from Gadkari’s office.
