Construction of service road for Cortalim-Verna diversion being considered

Porvorim: Minister for Public Works Department (PWD) Ramakrishna Dhavalikar on Thursday informed the House the construction of the service road parallel to the railway track for the Cortalim - Verna traffic diversion is under state government consideration. 

Minister said the decision is also awaited on whether the parallel service road will be constructed at the cost of PWD or the contractor of the Zuari bridge construction.  He said that government has to fast-track the traffic diversion plan and is currently finalizing the alignment. 

Dhavalikar said that when government initiated the process to acquire the land of farmers, the farmers requested not to take their land and accordingly, we had to make changes in the plan. 

The question with regards to construction of approaches to the new Zuari bridge was tabled by Congress MLA Wilfred D’Sa. He sought to know the present status of traffic diversion plan from Cortalim-Verna. 

Four-lane of MDR 40 from Karale to Tilamol being considered

Porvorim: State government has proposed four-laning of MDR 40 from Karale to Tilamol passing through Quepem municipal area, with a flyover at Rawanfond in Margao and a bypass along Margao-Quepem road at an estimated cost of over Rs 1,600 crore. 

Minister for public works department (PWD) Ramakrishna Dhavalikar on Thursday informed the State Legislative Assembly the government is currently in the process of finalizing the alignment and taking all the concerned MLAs the four-laning would be approved. 

Dhavalikar said that MDR 40, which starts in Curchorem and ends at Rawanfond, includes constituencies like Cuncolim, Navelim, Velim, Quepem and Curchorem. “The hot mixing of the existing road as proposed by the concerned MLAs will not give any relief as it a very  busy road. We have proposed four-laning of the road and a flyover at Rawanfond and new bypass connecting Margao- Quepem,” he said. 

He said that local MLAs and urban bodies and panchayats will be taken into confidence before going ahead with the project. 

The question with regards to hot mixing of MDR 40 was raised jointly by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, MLA Filip Neri Rodrigues and MLA Clafasio Dias. They said that the road from Tilamol to Ambedkar circle in Curchorem has been widened and hot mixed while the rest of the stretch remained neglected. 

Construction of service road for Cortalim-Verna diversion being considered

Porvorim: Minister for Public Works Department (PWD) Ramakrishna Dhavalikar on Thursday informed the House the construction of the service road parallel to the railway track for the Cortalim - Verna traffic diversion is under state government consideration. 

Minister said the decision is also awaited on whether the parallel service road will be constructed at the cost of PWD or the contractor of the Zuari bridge construction.  He said that government has to fast-track the traffic diversion plan and is currently finalizing the alignment. 

Dhavalikar said that when government initiated the process to acquire the land of farmers, the farmers requested not to take their land and accordingly, we had to make changes in the plan. 

The question with regards to construction of approaches to the new Zuari bridge was tabled by Congress MLA Wilfred D’Sa. He sought to know the present status of traffic diversion plan from Cortalim-Verna. 

Assembly congratulates CM for completing third Mandovi bridge in record time 

Porvorim: The Goa Legislative Assembly on Thursday congratulated Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for completing the third Mandovi Bridge ‘Atal Setu’ in record time. The Congratulatory Motion was moved by BJP MLA Rajesh Patnekar was seconded by the legislators. 

“This is one project in the history of Goa which he (CM) has built keeping in mind Goa and the Goans, which is connecting the North and South Goa. We know he can deliver and the Bridge will reduce 40 percent traffic,” Minister Rohan Khaunte told the House.

Calling him the tallest leader of Goa, Minister Mauvin Godinho said CM Parrikar has a vision for development of the State. “Goa itself is a brand name and to take it even forward, we need a vision. CM has that vision. Not only in the case of Atal Setu but the new Zuari Bridge will have viewing tower making it the first in the country. His commitment… he has kept his illness behind him. He is the tallest leader who gave surgical strike which frightened our neighbouring country and the terrorists,” he said reeling of instances in CM’s credit. 

Minister Vijai Sardesai too supporting the motion stating ‘CM builds bridges and not walls like the Opposition’ and that was the reason he is a part of the government. 

‘Not in good spirit’

The ruling benches took a jibe at AICC President Rahul Gandhi for politicizing his visit to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on the first day of the assembly session on Tuesday. “The opposition wants to use it for political gain,” Minister Mauvin Godinho said pointing at Gandhi, “Politics is being played leaving a bad taste in the mouth. Sometimes spokes are being put because people fear Goa is changing (for better).”

Minister Vijai Sardesai too echoed his view stating he regretted welcoming Gandhi to the Assembly. “I welcomed him. I regret…that his intention was different. It was his vested political interest,” he said during a discussion on the congratulatory motion. 

Gandhi on Tuesday visited the ailing CM at his office in the assembly building, and the meeting lasted for about 15 minutes. 

Gandhi had soon made a statement that Parrikar told him that he was unaware of changes made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the Rafale deal. CM shot back a letter to Gandhi asking him to not misuse the meeting while also denying any such discussion held. 

Sardesai quoted Bible saying that man should built bridges, not walls.

“The 5.1 km longest cable stayed bridge is actually a technological marvel and the chief minister gave us a message to be positive. I think that the message should reach in our House (Assembly),” he said adding, “In the Bible there is a saying that Man should built Bridges not walls. Jesus built bridges, not walls. So you need to build bridges. Manohar Parrikar also built bridges."