TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar finally resumed work on the long-delayed Fatorda road widening project resumed on Wednesday, but there’s no sign of early commencement of work on the relocation and reconstruction of the three road side Chapels.
Promise to hot mix approach roads of housing societies along the Ambaji-Nehru stadium road is also unlikely to be fulfilled. The contractor has told Fatorda MLA Vijai sardesai that hot mixing of the approach roads to the societies is not part of the GSIDC tender.
Work on the project had come to a grinding halt since the last three months, since the election code of conduct came into force from March. Last week, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had threatened to take to the streets if the work does not resume after May 24.
The Fatorda MLA, who was present at the site on Wednesday morning, told the media that the government should ensure that political rivalry does not come in the way of the implementation of the projects. “It appears that certain BJP leaders were against the completion of the project. I would like to tell the chief minister not to mix politics with development,” Vijai said.
On the relocation of the chapels located along the roads, Vijai said he had a meeting with the GSIDC consultant and the contractor and hoped that work on the chapels takes place at the earliest.
The contractor Verenkar said work on the relocation of chapels has not commenced since he has not received any directions from the GSIDC to start the work. “Neither have I received any directions nor have I been given a plan and drawing of the religious structures till date to commence work on the relocation,” Verenkar said.
Replying to a question, the contractor said the ongoing hot mixing work will stop till the Nehru stadium junction.
