MARGAO: Construction of the Sinquetim Benaulim bridge that was stopped some time back will shortly commence said Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao while also announcing that work on the railway underpass at Seraulim will also be tendered shortly.
Speaking at the function held to commission Rs. 24.99 crore development works in Benaulim constituency at Tolleaband in Benaulim, he urged Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation and the contractor to construct a befitting place for Ganesh immersion at Tolleaband.
Churchill recalled that he had commissioned three bridges when he was the MLA representing Navelim constituency and while the Assolna Cavelossim and Telaulim Varca bridges were commissioned, the Sinquetim Benaulim bridge was stalled due to intervention of “jealous elements” he said.
However, he disclosed that the Union Environment Ministry has now cleared the bridge and further disclosed that the government assured him to restart the work on that bridge as soon as possible. Similarly, he said as the State government has agreed to pay half the cost of constructing the rail underpass at Seraulim, that project too will be tendered shortly.
He said developmental works will be undertaken in villages of Benaulim, Orlim, Seraulim, Varca and Cavelossim under the Rs. 24.99 crore project besides which hot mixing of roads in these villages has been undertaken at the cost of Rs. 24 crore.
While roads in Colva are already hotmixed, work will commence in Benaulim in January 2019 and after that the roads in Varca and Orlim will be taken up and he urged the people to stand by him in his quest for development of the village.
Under the present project, the junction at Khareband bridge will be widened and fitted with a roundabout and the road from there to Bhirondi and also to Tolleaband will be widened with the one leading to Tolleaband also elevated to avoid flooding during monsoons besides also providing a walking track abutting Tolleaband.
The works in Benaulim are estimated to cost Rs. 14.5 crore and will include constructing cross drains where necessary, desilting of nallahs and water bodies and also widening the road from Maria Hall to Benaulim beach and ducts will be provided at regular intervals to prevent road cutting for taking service connections.
In Orlim the bandh leading to the church will be developed to give a good view of the ancient church besides also providing access for tractors to the fields and illuminating the bandh that will be developed into a leisure spot for people with benches erected at regular intervals.
In Seraulim, Varca and Cavelossim 1.2 mts wide footpaths will be provided to the roads that will be widened besides also providing cross culverts wherever required. While in Seraulim the bandh to Sucobhat will be improved, in Varca the road leading to Pedda will be taken up for improvement.
In Cavelossim the road leading from the Assolna Cavelossim bridge to the MDR in Cavelossim will be widened and improved besides being beautified. All these works are supposed to be completed in two years and while the retaining walls will be taken up within a week the asphalting will be taken up after the monsoons.
Teotonio Souza of Souza Engineers and Constructions Pvt Ltd that bagged the contract while admitting that this is the first such major job they are taking up promised to complete all the work in one and a half year.
