PANJIM: Stating that the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has been asked to expedite pending projects in the healthcare and education sector, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday lamented that the ongoing pandemic and Cyclone Tauktae had delayed expected timelines of various projects.
Sawant was speaking to media on Tuesday after chairing a GSDIC Board meeting.
Explaining that the earlier GSDIC board meetings had been postponed, Sawant said this meeting was a routine review meeting to check on the status of projects undertaken by GSIDC and that no new works were discussed.
Sawant said that priority has been given to complete the hospital related projects. He also said cost estimates about other projects such as repair and refurbishing of school buildings and halls have to be revised due to the impact of the cyclone and pandemic. He added that three ITI building projects in Mapusa, Canacona and Pernem have been fast tracked.
Stating that December has been given as the deadline for most of these projects, he said that one-lane of the signature Zuari bridge will be opened by December this year and that the government had earlier planned to do this by May, but the same was delayed due to the pandemic. He also said that work on the third wing of the Mandovi Bridge at Panjim will be fast tracked as well and completed by end of December.
Sawant was also asked to comment on Goa Forward Party’s criticism of failing to give a hike to healthcare workers even after a year, to which he said the pandemic is still going on even after a year and that the government is looking into the same issue.
