The infrastructure development plan for the cities of Panaji, Madgaon and Mapusa is understood to have been given to a Spanish firm, LKS Infrastructure, whose credentials are unknown. These developmental plans have not been put in the public domain for scrutiny and comment. This is a rather unfortunate situation since we may again be saddled with development that is not in line with the necessities of the people and money would have been spent on creating ‘white elephants’ with scarce resources. Thus it is high time that these infrastructure development plans are put in the public domain immediately.
It is understood that the 3rd Mandovi Bridge, a quite unnecessary project, is part of the plan for Panaji submitted by LKS Infrastructure and it is important that the public be involved in discussing this project to thrash out the pros and cons of this huge investment of Rs 500 crores being spent from State funds.
When the Mapusa Bus Stand development plan which is not even half the cost of the 3rd Mandovi Bridge project can be put up for public scrutiny and comment, one wonders why the 3rd Mandovi Bridge is being rushed through without any of the people involved in using the bridge in future being involved in looking at the plans.
This is being said more so since after the preparatory work on the bridge started, we had read last month (Nov 2014) the government ads in the papers about acquisition of land for the project. This ad had mention properties in the Goa Housing Board and in interior Pundalik Nagar in Porvorim which are nowhere near the bridge. Not only that we had on the old Betim – Mapusa road where we stay and where this road meets the NH17, about two weeks back the L&T engineers with their theodolites surveying the area and when questioned they said it was for the 3rd Mandovi Bridge and were not forthcoming with more information. This has created doubts in the people’s minds as to the exact orientation of the bridge.
The proper way to do this would have been to take the people living in the vicinity of the project into confidence by putting the plans of the 3rd Mandovi Bridge for public viewing with both government and L&T officials available to respond to queries. Thus it is time to freeze the 3rd Mandovi Bridge project where it stands today so that its viability can be examined in detail.
