TEAM HERALD
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CALANGUTE: Such has been the fascination for MLAs to have foundation stones laid on their birthdays that a project has had the unusual “honour” of having two foundation stones laid to mark the birthdays of two different legislators over a period of two years.
The foundation stone for a parallel bridge connecting Arpora and Calangute has been laid twice.
Then PWD minister Churchill Alemao had laid the first foundation stone to mark the birthday of then Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes on September 2, 2011.
The foundation stone for the parallel bridge at Arpora was laid for the second time on the occasion of the birthday of Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had unveiled the foundation stone in the presence of Lobo, Arpora-Nagoa Sarpanch Sushma Nagvekar, Calangute Sarpanch Geeta Parab and panchas of Arpora-Nagoa, Calangute, Parra and Candolim.
Lobo admitted that the foundation stone for the project was being laid for the second time, much to the amusement of the panchas, who were present at the inaugural ceremony.
“The inauguration of the work is being done for the second time. First time, it was done without any process of land acquisition, but this time it is done on completion of the entire process,” he admitted.
“We hope to complete the work on the parallel bridge in record time in the interest of the villagers and tourists visiting Calangute, Arpora-Baga and Anjuna-Vagator,” added Lobo.
Addressing the gathering, Parrikar had said: “During the election rally in the Arpora market, I had said that the work on the bridge would commence within six months or so, but it could not be done due to certain factors like procedural wrangles in the land acquisition process.”
“The court finally decided in our favour. We plan to have a two-lane bridge with quality works, estimated to cost over Rs 5 crore. The bridge will ease traffic congestion, especially during peak season,” he said.
