Shoaib Shaikh
shoaib@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The process to upgrade the 229.40 km of state highways and main district roads (MDRs) into national highways began in November 2015 when Goa Public Works Department had submitted the list of roads proposed to be developed under the Bharat Mala Pariyojana.
The in-principle approval to declare 229.40 km of MDRs by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) into highways is just another step in the process which began in 2015.
The proposal by the PWD included development of roads connecting beaches, towns and villages with places of religious importance, bird sanctuary and wild life sanctuary and all other tourist places in the state.
When the proposal was sent to MORTH, PWD had stated that the project does not have land acquisition provision and would include all the coastal roads, construction of junctions wherever required, hot mixing the roads, construction of gutters and storm water drainage, designing and beautification of roads wherever possible. As per the initial proposal, the project included traffic landscaping with installations of signboards and milestones, etc.
However, the current imbroglio for the government has arised due to the MDRs being granted in-principle approval to be declared as highways.
PWD Principal Chief Engineer, Uttam Parsekar said the scenario paints a sad story now due to the Supreme Court directions to ban liquor within 500 meters radius of highways.
“We always plan towards progress and not regress. When the proposals were made, the Supreme Court’s orders were not there and therefore such an impact was not expected. Now, considering all the aspects, a decision will have to be taken by the government”, he stated.
PWD Superintending Engineer, Vijaykumar Verenkar informed that the tender to appoint a consultant for the preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) is ready and would be floated after the code of conduct is relaxed.
“Once the code of conduct is relaxed, we will hold the process and appoint a consultant. The consultant will be given a year’s time to prepare the DPR. Based on the DPR, a decision will then be taken by the government whether the roads can be converted into highways or not”, he informed.
Under Bharat Mala Pariyojana of the Centre, about 7000 kms of national highways will be developed in consultations with State Governments at an estimated cost of Rs 80,000 crores.
The roads approved to be declared as national highways include SH-7 from Sanvordem Tisk to Dharbandora junction, SH-6 from Borim Circle (Kalay) to Zuna, MDR-1 road from Old Goa to Pilar, MDR-43 from Velsao junction at NH-17B to Mobor Leela Beach junction, MDR-13 from Verem market to Nerul upto Candolim, MDR-9 from Betim via Verem upto Saligao, MDR-10 from Aguada, to Arpora via Candolim and Calangute, MDR-18 from Chopdem to Keri, MDR-33 from Dharbandora to Satpal and road from Bolcornem to Tambdi Surla.
Further MDR-52 Collem to Savargal via Shigao and Voldem, MDR-22, Shalibar to Saptakoteshwar Road junction, road from Sesa Goa plant to Shalibar Narva, Narva – Pilgao road, MDR-20 Pilgao to Sarmanus jetty, MDR-49 Char Rasta to Managinim, road from Valpoi to Nagargao in Sattari, road from Nagargao to Bharmkarmali, MDR-28 Khotode to Ganjem and road from Marcel to NH-4A via Betki, Savoi Verem and Vagurme.
