The much needed parallel Agasaim to Cortalim New Zuari Bridge on National Highway NH-17 has been delayed by more than 10 years. It now appears that the construction of the new bridge and approaches proposed to be taken up in three packages between Ch 522/615 to Ch 536/250 is not according to the bridge alignment layout plans for National Highway PWD/National Highway shown in the Cortalim-Quelossim Panchayat Regional Plan for Goa-2021.
According to the Request for Proposal (RFP) document of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, the consultancy services contract for supervision of civil construction works for construction of bridge including approaches across river Zuari on NH-17/NH-66 in the State of Goa will be monitored by National Highways PWD Maharashtra. Why should the Maharashtra PWD monitor the construction of the new Zuari Road Bridge in Goa?
Several years ago it was reported that the preliminary Vasco-Panjim sea-link alignment study document prepared by the technical consultant (who was also appointed as technical consultant for Mopa Airport and JICA Project in Goa) would be sent to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for assessing the project economic viability. Has the sea-link project been officially rejected by the Goa PPP Cell? Or are there plans to still go ahead with the massive sea-link project connecting Siridao village to another village in Mormugao taluka?
There are no approvals and clearances for the hypothetical draft Mopa Airport project master plan. The National Highways network plans are closely linked to the Mopa Airport project master plan, airport connectivity and supporting land development projects. The implementation of road connectivity network plans for permitting unsustainable development projects near the banks of National Waterway No.25 (Chapora River), National Waterway No.27 (Cumbarjua River), National Waterway No.68 (Mandovi River), National Waterway No.71 (Mapusa-Moira River system), National Waterway No.88 (Sal River) and National Waterway No.111 (Zuari River) in the tiny state of Goa will destroy eco-sensitive villages resulting in man-made disasters.
