Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) on Friday signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in a bid to develop the green corridor with model plantation and beautification on the National Highway stretch passing through the State.
With this, Goa will be the first model State that has been adopted under the Green Highways Policy 2015 to develop the green corridor with model plantation and beautification on National Highway stretch passing through the State.
Addressing the media, GSIDC Chairman Deepak Pawaskar said, “Today we have signed an MoU with the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in a bid to develop the green corridor with model plantation and beautification on the National Highway stretch passing through the State and in this regard a detailed report along with estimates was sent to National Highway Authorities by GSIDC.”
“The total length of the road to be considered under the scheme is 261 kms with an approximate cost of Rs 64,37,24,711. The funding for the project shall be done by MoRTH while GSIDC will execute and maintain the same. GSIDC will involve local expertise and consult interested Goans to make Goa highways green by planting native fruit/flower bearing plants,” Pawaskar said.
He said that five national highways passing through Goa will be taken up under this project covering a total of 261 Kms in length. NH 17 will be taken from Patradevi to Polem check post (133 kms), Galgibaga to Polem road (15 kms), Farmagudi circle to Varnapuri Gate (20 kms), Panjim to Mollem (43 kms) and from Dhargal to Usgao road (50 kms).
Meanwhile, GSIDC Vice-Chairman Siddharth Kuncalienker said that as the MoU had been signed today in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the tender to identify the contractor will soon follow.
“The relevant documents were exchanged between Managing Director of GSIDC, Srinet Kothwale and Ministry of Road Transport, Singh. Architect Mangesh Goankar had prepared this detailed report. We have also decided to take help from Goan botanists and other experts. The policy has been made in order to curb the vehicular pollution along the highways,” he said.
Meanwhile, it may be recalled that the Ministry of Road Transport Highways and Shipping had unveiled the Green Highway Policy 2015 was launched in September 2015 with the aim to help the environment, help local communities, and generate employment by planting trees along all the highways in the country with the target to complete 6,000 Kms of highways for the first year.
