PANAJI
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the construction of four-lane road from Mumbai to Goa will make it easier for commuters to cover the distance of 591 kms within six hours.
“We have already started the work of Mumbai-Goa four-lane cement concrete road. Our target is to complete this road by 2018. This is not an expressway but a four-lane concrete road and I am confident that once the project is completed, Goa to Mumbai will take only six hours”, said Gadkari.
Pointing out that maximum number of accidents occur on this road, he said, “We are also identifying the accidental black spots. We have already made a provision of Rs 11,000 crore for improving 786 black spots in the country. At the same time we, have made it mandatory for state governments to reserve 10 per cent of the fund for improving black spots.”
He appealed to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Chief Secretary R K Shrivastav to identify the black spots in Goa and assured to sanction financial aid for improving the same.
Stating that waterways should be encouraged in the interest of the environment, Gadkari said, “As far as Goa is concerned, two rivers “ Mandovi and Zuari “ are very important. Our ministry has already sanctioned Rs 120 crore for dredging work at 31 locations in both these rivers, 21 kms in Zuari and 28 kms in Mandovi. We will see that there is draft of 3.2 metres in these rivers.”
He said that these inland waterways will be very helpful Goans, tourists as well as for transportation of iron ore and other material.
Speaking further, he informed that the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), in consultation with Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association is finalising the fishing harbour at Khariwada in Vasco Bay, assuring to protect the interest of fishermen.
“In Sagarmala project, we have planned one scheme where we will to finance all fishermen's societies for buying trawlers amounting to Rs 2 crore. By giving this, they will be able to travel across 12 nautical miles where they will get maximum fish which will add to their income. Additionally, it will boost the fish processing industries too”, he said.
