PANJIM: Even as people continue to be inconvenienced at the airport junction due to traffic congestion, the Rs 43 cr project completed more than a month ago awaits inauguration due to the lack of co-ordination between government departments.
The Dabolim airport grade separator project was taken up by then CM late Manohar Parrikar. The U-turn bridges, were planned to ease heavy traffic movement towards Dabolim airport from Verna and Vasco and also, to prevent traffic congestion near the traffic signal in front of the airport.
When asked the reason for the delay in the inauguration, Goa State Infrastrcture Development Corporation vice-chairperson Joshua D’Souza said there are some minor issues to be solved.
“I wanted the grade separators to be completed before Christmas as it is peak season and has lot of incoming traffic in Goa,” he said. However, he added that due to small issues the inauguration was delayed. “There is a trial run pending from the contractor and once that is done we will decide when to open the bridges,” he said.
D’Souza said the work on the approach roads and the shifting to power poles is also pending. “Besides, the PWD was also supposed to clear the approach roads of parking by taxis and other vehicles,” he said adding, “We want the issues to be sorted before throwing the bridges open to public.”
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho conducted a joint inspection along with the Airport Director on the approach roads of Dabolim Airport and roads around the grade separator project. He said that the project would be thrown open once the trial run of the grade separator is taken up.
Speaking to Herald, Godinho said he is in no hurry to inaugurate the project as there are lot of works pending. “The approach road on airport side is not ready besides the electric poles are yet to be shifted,” he said. He said the work will take a month as some beautification work is also underway.
