VASCO: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said the government plans to construct concrete four-lane highway from Mumbai to Goa for smooth movement of traffic.
Gadkari was speaking after releasing the documents of tripartite agreement signed by Goa government, Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to complete the remaining stretch of four-lane highway from Gandhinagar-Mangor Hill, Vasco, to MPT.
Gadkari released the documents in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, Power Minister Milind Naik, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, MPT Chairman Cyril C George, officials from Roads, Transport and Highways and other officials from MPT.
With the signing of the tripartite agreement, the remaining stretch of about 5 kms of the four-lane highway from Gandhinagar Mangor Hill, Vasco, to MPT harbour will be completed. Due to the incomplete four-lane highway, the Vasco city had to bear the burden of heavy traffic proceeding to MPT harbour.
Addressing media, Gadkari stated that the four-lane highway, which was incomplete almost for last 10 years, will now be completed as the tripartite agreement is already signed by the State government, MPT and NHAI.
“The government plans to construct concrete four-lane highway from Mumbai to Goa for smooth movement of traffic, which will be maintenance free for almost 100 years,” stated Gadkari.
“My government is fully committed towards development of Goa and will fulfill the commitment made during the election,” assured Gadkari.
While commenting on expansion and modernisation of MPT, Gadkari said though MPT does not have enough land to expand, efforts are on to modernize it to handle other cargo.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the work of remaining stretch of the four-lane highway from Gandhinagar to MPT harbour will start within next two months and it will be completed within next two years.
“With the completion of the four-lane highway, city traffic congestion will be reduced. My government started clearing the files pertaining to remaining stretch of the four-lane highway on fast track and cleared all the bottlenecks before signing the tripartite agreement,” he said.
