CUNCOLIM: Fifteen years have passed but confusion over the alignment of the bye-pass to National Highway No 66 in Cuncolim city still prevails.
15 years ago, as there were three different alignments being discussed by the PWD and the Highway Authorities, the then MLA Joaquim Alemao brought in officials of central PWD and following consultations with the people, had come out with an alignment running parallel to the Konkan Railway track.
At that time, this alignment starting from Sarzora going to the Primary Health Centre at Balli via Cuncolim, was considered to be the best as only four houses were likely to be adversely affected.
However, there was a change of guard and the Congress was voted out of power in Goa and the Bharatiya Janata Party took over the reigns of the State, when they came out with another proposal claiming that it would be cheaper.
This alignment that saw the road passing through Uskini Bandh to Napherem Sanvorcotto and from there to the NIT site at Demani from where it would join the highway at Balli was objected to by not only the residents of Dandevado but also many councillors. People from Cuncolim have now called upon their present MLA who is also the Leader of Opposition to ask him to prevail upon the government to sanction the alignment that was proposed by his father when he was representing the constituency.
Meanwhile, residents of Dandevaddo, Chinchinim have appealed to Goa Forward Party supremo Vijai Sardessai to save their houses as some of them were already demolished while widening the National Highway 66.
MLA Yuri Alemao’s recent statement that the government will construct a fly over in Cuncolim for the Highway has further compounded the confusion as it is not clear on which alignment the flyover would be constructed.
While some opine that the fly over will be constructed in keeping with the present alignment passing through the city market, others opine that it will be constructed from Comba to NIT in Demani.
What is truly confusing in the present scenario is the construction of many buildings close to the existing highway, which were not necessary if the existing highway would remain.
