the goan I network
MARGAO
Tarring of the road constructed at Benaulim, touching the main Varca road from the river Sal, has raised many an eyebrow amongst the villagers, who have been waging a battle demanding construction of the Western bypass on stilts.
While the villagers raised questions whether the PWD and the government have gone back on its word to build an underpass on the Varca road, senior PWD, NH official, Laxmikant Naik sought to allay apprehensions, saying the under-construction road is being tarred to ensure connectivity of the bypass with the Varca-Margao road.
In fact, Naik, who is heading the PWD, NH, as its Executive Engineer, said the government has sanctioned four bypasses, including one underpass at the Varca road.
“I would like to say that an underpass will be built at the Varca road and the tarring of the newly-constructed road is being done only to ensure connectivity of the bypass from Navelim to the Varca-Margao road,” he said.
Former Benaulim Sarpanch Royla Fernandes, however, wondered whether the PWD is assuring one thing to the villagers and doing something else on the ground. “Just a couple of days ago, the PWD had assured the villagers that the PWD will build as many as four underpasses right from Seraulim to Benaulim on the bypass. Today, we were shocked to find the newly-built bypass road touching the Varca road being tarred, raising questions whether the PWD has no plans to build an underpass at the Varca road junction,” Royla questioned.
