MAPUSA
In a significant development for residents and commuters of Mapusa, the Public Works Department (PWD) has announced the commencement of the much-needed widening and improvement project for the main road stretching from Gandhi Chowk to Bodgeshwar Temple.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 8 crore, aims to enhance traffic flow and pedestrian safety along the 520-metre-long stretch.
The project entails four-laning of the road, complete with a central median and footpaths on either side. A PWD official revealed that the undertaking will involve the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of two culverts, one of which is a major structure.
Additionally, three to four water pipelines along the route will need to be relocated to facilitate the widening process.
The initiation of the road widening and beautification work was inaugurated by Deputy Speaker and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza, in the presence of Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Nutan Bicholkar and other council members.
According to a PWD official, the project is anticipated to take at least six months to complete, owing to the complexities involved in shifting major pipelines and constructing culverts. Once the road stretch is demarcated, the widening work will be initiated.
While the road stretch from Bodgeshwar Temple (Canca) to Parra and beyond has already undergone widening and footpath construction, approximately half a kilometer of the Mapusa-side road remained pending due to delays in the land acquisition process. This delay was attributed to a court dispute initiated by one of the tenants in the area.
It is noteworthy that the road widening and beautification work from Canca to Parra has been undertaken by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).
This long-awaited infrastructure upgrade is expected to bring substantial relief to motorists and pedestrians navigating through the Mapusa area once completed.
