OLD GOA: In a development that surprised many, a portion of a restaurant located along the highway NH17 at the St Cruz-Merces junction was razed on Thursday, giving an impression that it was undertaken by highway authorities.
However, when the State Highways authorities were contacted, it came to light that the demolition was undertaken by the property owner himself as part of a mutual understanding with the authorities.
Works Division VII(NH) EE, Narayan Mayekar informed that 6 months ago, the department had approached the property owner to demolish a portion of the restaurant to enable completion of the service road and the overbridge.
“If any demolition is undertaken, it is by the owner himself as part of a mutual understanding,” Mayekar informed, while stating that the land acquisition process of that stretch is still not complete.
“Once the land acquisition is done, the owner will be compensated for the acquired land,” he added.
