MARGAO, MARCH 24
After bitter controversies and endless delays, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao’s three dream bridges over River Sal may soon see light of the day.
If the Minister is to be believed, the Telaulim-Varca bridge will be complete in all respects by June-end this year, while the controversial Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge will be thrown open for traffic later this year in August-September.
The Assolna-Cavelossim Bridge will be commissioned in May 2011, the PWD Minister announced after inspection work on the three bridges on Wednesday evening.
“I was questioned in many quarters over the need to build for the three bridges. I wanted to complete the Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge first, but the work was delayed after some people opposed the project”, he said.
Asserting that the Rs 11.51 crore 74-meter long Telaulim-Varca bridge will be completed in June this year, the PWD Minister said the Rs 8.44 crore 60-meter long Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge will be completed around August-September.
As far as the Assolna-Cavelossim bridge is concerned, he said the 620 meter long bridge costing Rs 55.38 crore will be complete in all respects by May 2011.
“I am grateful to the people of Telaulim, Sinquetim, Assolna, Cavelossim, Varca and Benaulim for supporting the three bridges. Some people might have opposed the bridges, but let me tell you the bridges will benefit the posterity”, he said.
The Assolna-Cavelossim will have a total of 24 spans and the PWD has proposed a by-pass road connecting the bridge to the Assolna-Velim road to avoid congestion.
