In the year 2017 the National Highway (NH) Unit of Public Works Department (PWD) kick started the widening work of the NH17-A from Cortalim junction to Chicalim junction. Initially the work commenced on a war-footing but pending shifting of electric poles and transformers from the road widening area delayed the project which otherwise would have completed by December 2017.
The estimated cost for this 10-km long road widening project is Rs 16 crore and it is expected to be completed by March 2018.
Nature of work in the project involves widening of road by 2.5 metres on both sides of existing road, construction of retaining walls, construction of five culverts, installation of crash barriers at four locations where the road is having slope and hot-mixing of the widened portion.
As per the PWD NH Officials three different teams under one contractor using about 80 to 100 odd laborers have been working on a war footing to complete the project. However, pending shifting of electricity poles is only hindrance for early completion of the project. “Currently we have completed 80 per cent of the work and remaining 20 per cent will be completed in next two months. Once the project is completed then Chicalim-Cortalim road will be 15 metres wide,” said Assistant Engineer PWD (NH) Vincent D’ Souza.
“Earlier there were plans to rehabilitate some families whose houses were coming in the way of the road widening work, however, we have now deferred this decision and our aim is currently to complete the work on time to reduce inconvenience to the vehicular traffic on the said road due to ongoing works,” D’Souza claimed.
As per information provided by Electricity Department officials there are about 132 electric poles and 2 transformers which fall under the alignment of the projected widening work of the NH-17 from Cortalim to Chicalim junction. The department has also completed the survey of all the electric poles and transformers. Estimate for the same has also been prepared and approved and work to shift electric poles has commenced.
This road is used immensely by the airport traffic and hence the department has been working on a war footing to compete the project on time.
