PANAJI
The completion of the third Mandovi bridge may be delayed by another six months with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday stating that the bridge would be thrown open to public from December 19 next year.
The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) had earlier set a deadline of January 2017 which was further delayed by five months and the work was expected to be complete by May 2017.
Speaking during a function, Parrikar said, “Once the third Mandovi Bridge is completed, nearly 50 per cent traffic including heavy vehicles will pass over that bridge and reduce congestion. As per schedule, it will be completed by September 17 but if there is some delay, it will be completed by December 19 next year.”
In July this year, GSIDC Vice-Chairman Sidharth Kuncalienkar had informed that only 35 per cent of the work on the bridge was complete and the entire work would end by May 2017. The project was delayed as the environmentalists had approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stating that mangroves were destroyed during the construction of the bridge.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar too has informed the State Legislative Assembly in January this year that the work would be completed by March 2017.
