PANAJI
A preliminary presentation made to ministers has set in motion plans for expansion of major national highways in the State. As part of the plans, 100 homes will have to be relocated and 10 new flyovers have been proposed.
Though time frames and costs for the project have not been estimated yet, the meeting with the ministers was only to give a preliminary look at what the project would involve.
“This is only the first step in the widening of roads and inclusion of flyovers in the State along NH17 and NH 4A. The main idea is to improve the road conditions with bigger roads,” said an official from the Public Works Department (PWD) office.
The PWD made the presentation that will see road realignments and expansions from Patradevi to Polem and Anmol to Panjim. The presentation made at the ministerial block of the Secretariat was attended by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar as well as ruling party ministers and members of the National Highways Authority of India.
Speaking to media after the meeting, Parsekar said he had asked the MLAs to explain the project to the public and begin work after feedback. "I have asked MLAs to go back to the people and explain the realignment process and plans with them. We will go ahead with the highways realignment process only after their feedback," he said.
Incidentally, the road expansion and realignment process was met with severe objection when it was first proposed in 2010.
The PWD official also added that the next step in the process of the expansion is to conduct a survey of the area including the houses that will have to be rehabilitated, following which a detailed plan is to be prepared.
Among plans for the 139 kilometer stretch of national highway length, creating four and six lane roads have also been proposed to keep in mind the future increase in vehicular traffic.
