Funds criminally wasted on building Navelim-Margao flyover: Coutinho

MARGAO, JAN 15
Former Margao Municipal chairperson Savio Coutinho has alleged criminal waste of funds in the construction for the long-delayed Navelim Church-Margao flyover four-lane road.
Coutinho pointed out that the Goa Infrastructure Development Corporation has put in place 30 cms wide ducts on either side of the four lane road under construction, making provision for power and telephone cables.
He, however, lamented that instead of using the ducts, the contractor which has bagged the contract to lay the power lines, is laying underground cables through trench-less technology, resulting in wastage of funds to the tune of Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
“This four-lane road is being designed by consultants. I fail to understand why there was no coordination amongst the various agencies while planning the road. People who have planned the four-lane road should be held accountable for the loss”, he added.
Incidentally, when Herald tried to contact a senior Power official last week, he feigned ignorance about the ducts provided by the GSIDC for the power and telephone cables. IN fact, the official had told this newspaper that the ducts were provided only at the crossing and not along the entire four-lane road – a claim disputed by the former Municipal Chairperson.
“Provision for ducts on either side of the road has been made by spending a great deal of money. Both the Power and GSIDC officials should visit the site and confirm the arrangement”, Coutinho added.
In a lighter vein, Coutinho said the only possible use of ducts would be a “metro” for rodents, adding “while the residents of Colmorod are fed up of demanding the much needed sewerage line, the government has funds to waste”.