MANUEL VAZ
OLD GOA
With the government putting the four-laning work of the Panjim-Old Goa NH4A bypass on fast track, aggrieved residents of Corlim have stepped up their opposition to the road-widening work in their area.
And leading the opposition is the National Highway Action Committee-Corlim (NHACC), with its convenor Alexander Gomes vowing that the people of Corlim would not allow expansion of the road at any cost.
But while the NHACC claims the project will not benefit the public but only a few businessmen and ministers, local MLA Pandurang Madkaikar admits being in favour of road expansion work along the Corlim stretch, following assurances by PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar that the project would be undertaken with minimal damage.
The NHACC has already started holding meetings to garner support and Gomes informed Herald that Old Goa residents have also decided to join the agitation.
“The Centre has already given approval for a new Zuari bridge, from where 60% of the present traffic will be diverted. Also, the Old Goa–Cumbharjua–Marcela–Amona national highway is nearing completion, which will cater to another 15% of the traffic. There is no need for NH4A to pass through Old Goa, Corlim, Bhoma and towards Ponda,” reasoned Gomes.
Gomes then demanded that the government should declare the national highway route, passing through Corlim, as a major district road.
“The national highway has to be de-notified,” he further demanded, while stating that road-widening work under the guise of a national highway would not be acceptable to the people of Corlim.
“The NH4A route should be diverted from Old Goa on the outskirts of villages, through uninhabited areas and fallow lands,” he added.
“We will not allow any land acquisition along the existing road,” Gomes said.
“The project will not benefit the public, but only a few businessmen and ministers. The NHACC will not allow Goa to be used as a corridor for other states for transportation.”
The NHACC has now warned the PWD ministry of consequences if the road widening work is carried out without the knowledge and consent of Corlim locals.
Meanwhile, local MLA Pandurang Madkaikar said that he is in favour of the expansion of the road along the Corlim stretch.
“PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has assured that it will be done with minimal damage. Though the PWD has acquired 45 metres of land for widening the stretch of the highway from Panaji to Old Goa, the minister has assured that only 7.5 metres each on both sides of the road will be acquired for widening the road along Corlim stretch,” Madkaikar stated.
“The Minister has even assured that those compound walls, which are to be demolished for the widening work, will be rebuilt by the PWD,” he added.
“The people have to make some sacrifice as widening of the road is the need of the hour to reduce accidents,” said Madkaikar. “I am in favour of the proposal put forth by the PWD minister, which is in the best interest of everybody concerned.”
Asked if any of the affected locals have approached him over the issue, he replied in the negative.
