TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Consultancy work may begin on the proposed new Zuari bridge shortly as the Goa government has approved the appointment of Goa based company S N Bhobe and its consortium partner TPH Group from Belgium as consultants. The government would pay Rs 3.25 crore for the consultancy.
“The government has granted the approval for appointment of the consultant which was conveyed to us Wednesday,” J S Rego, principal chief engineer, PWD said, adding, “We will be issuing the work orders within a few days.” The government would expect a report at the earliest even as it is yet to decide the timeframe within which it would want the consultants to submit a detailed project report.
The present state government had promised a new bridge over river Zuari within a period of three years.
From March 2014 and the government would have exactly three years during which time it hopes to construct a second bridge over river Zuari – the key link between south and north Goa.
Meanwhile, the Public works department (PWD) has already assigned the task to Goa College of Engineering for its consultancy on the existing bridge over river Zuari and action plan for refurbish the same.
Speaking further on issues concerning bridges, Rego disclosed that work orders have already been issued to Bhobe for consultancy for a new bridge across river Khandepar.
“Estimates have also been sent for approval of the government for floating tenders for consultancy for road widening of national highway 17 and NH 4A.
“Tenders would thereafter be floated for these two projects as well,” Rego said.
On the issue of road repair works, the PPCE-PWD said that most of the work has been completed and works under the liability clause have also been carried out by the concerned contractors.
