While work has commenced and is moving at a fast pace on the construction of the Mopa Airport but surprisingly work on the long overdue grade separators at Dabolim airport are still going on years after their scheduled completion date.  Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised the grade separators at Dabolim airport to avoid the sudden U-turns and disruption of traffic on the NH 17B. At a cost of Rs 417,969,000.00, MVR constructions got the contracts for the two grade separators but surprisingly the work commenced only in the year 2014 and was due for completion in 2016. But the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation website clearly states that just 33% of the work is done and is far from completion in 2018.

“The grade separator avoiding the signals towards the airport is complete and only the landings are to be created. The delays here were because of a petroleum pipeline along the rail track which has now been shifted. While on the other end to avoid the airport traffic exiting onto the highway, the work is in full swing and should be completed by year end, stated project director A kantak.

MVR known for building a couple of bridges for example the Cavelossim-Assolna Bridge and also the South Goa’s Grand Collectorate which were also delayed from the actual deadline.

“The entire stretch has work and vehicles from the traffic island coming along the highway, the grade separators, demolition of the old airport, and works of a hangar by DBL inside the airport and further up the Varunapuri road works and Baina flyover works. These works need to stay on schedule because of the mess,” explains local resident Jyothi Kamat troubled by the debris along the highway.

While former Chicalim Panchayat sarpanch Francisco Nunes explains the entire grade separator project and its length is a completely mis planned activity, while subways could have been built and also there could be better coordination looking at parking, shifting of the petroleum and naphtha pipeline and all other aspects. Nunes blames the BJP government for failing to plan these projects before execution and the continuous return to the drawing board to re-visit the design multiple times, while Francisco also wished that the rail line opposite the airport had train connectivity to Margao station.