TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: The central government has reportedly accorded sanction for three bridges at Canacona taluka at a cost of Rs.280.16 crore.
“The official communiqué is likely to be issued within next four to five working days,” a reliable source told Herald.
According to reliable sources, a team consisting of officials from National Highways (Goa) was camping in New Delhi to submit a presentation of the proposed bridges on the rivers at Galgibaga and Talpona, besides another one along the Maxem creek.
After the presentation found favour, central officials, however, insisted on an undertaking from the state government that the expenses for the three bridges would be recovered by way of toll booths.
In a bid to overcome this hurdle, the determined National Highways team then approached Goa’s former Chief Minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at Delhi.
Parrikar, who enjoys considerable clout within the central government, reportedly took up the issue with his colleague concerned, before obtaining the much-awaited Centre’s nod for not just two, but three bridges in Canacona at a cost of Rs 280.16 crore.
“As soon as the central government’s sanction was obtained, Parrikar personally called one of his close aides by phone in Canacona taluka and broke the news,” said the source.
When people close to the aide from Canacona heard the news, they even welcomed the news by posting their comments on his Facebook page on Friday itself.
Some others were, however, less optimistic and wondered if it was a poll gimmick on innocent voters from the taluka.
It may be recalled that Canacona legislator and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar had in January had made a presentation of the NH17 bypass road from Maxem (Loliem) to Char-Rasta (Canacona Municipality), to be constructed along with three bridges. He had stated that this proposal would be sent to Delhi for approval from the Centre.
The four-lane expressway, which includes three service roads at Maxem, Galgibaga and Char-Rasta, would also have three bridges at Maxem creek and over the rivers at Galgibaga and Talpona.
