Team Herald
PANJIM: Just a month ahead of the Goa Assembly elections, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) Nitin Gadkari on Monday granted approval for Rs 7000 crore road project for the coastal State.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The approval came almost a month after Gadkari had sanctioned new road project worth Rs 1,250 crore for the State under MORTH.
Gadkari was on a day-long visit to Goa to inaugurate and lay foundation stone for national highway projects worth Rs 3,840 crore.
Addressing media persons later during the day, the Union Minister said he has sanctioned Rs 7,000 crore worth projects for various road infrastructure projects across the State.
Gadkari said the State government under its annual plan 2021-22 had proposed 13 new projects at an estimated cost of Rs 809 crore, for which the sanction has been granted. “Also, another eight projects, at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore are approved,” he said.
Additionally, two works related to NH 17B and NH66 are sanctioned at the cost of Rs 305 crore, Gadkari said, adding that Rs 350- 400 crore have been sanctioned to make the road stretch along MES junction in Dabolim to Verna traffic signal free.
Gadkari accorded approval for redesigning of Bambolim subway near Goa Medical College to make it pedestrian friendly and for persons with disabilities. He said the project will include lifts for movement of the pedestrians and PWD.
The Union Minister also said the Central government has undertaken road development works to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore in Goa since 2014.
Earlier in November, Union Minister had sanctioned road from Navelim to Cuncolim at cost of Rs 270 crore. Also, the 8-km road from Canacona outer bypass road to Polem at a cost of Rs 200 crore. Road from Sanjivani sugar factory, Dharbandora to Khandepar at Rs 200 crore and Ponda to Bhoma four-lane road at a cost of Rs 575 crore.
On the upcoming election, Gadkari expressed confidence that the party will win with complete majority under leadership of Dr Pramod Sawant.
