MARGAO: The government has finally decided to tender the long-delayed Margao Western bypass connecting Nuvem and Dramapur in the first week of April with the Union government giving its nod for the bypass project.
The tender for the second Zuari bridge will be floated by the government by March end this year.
PWD Minister, Sudin Dhavalikar said the tendering process for the Nuvem-Dramapur bypass will be initiated in the first week of April. Once constructed, the bypass will come as a big relief to traffic problems plaguing Margao and the Eastern bypass. He said the Western bypass project will take some time to take shape since the work includes a flyover and a bridge over the railway tracks.
Speaking at the 26th National Road Safety Week at the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, on Monday, Dhavalikar said the Engineering Project Consultancy has been roped in to take up the construction of the bypass. Besides, he said the government will go for the Borim-Fatorda four lane road, the Verna-Loutolim road, adding that the PWD will complete work on the asphalting of the NH-17 from Polem-Nuvem by April.
Dhavalikar has called upon young riders to change their mindset in respect of road safety to help further bring down the accident rate. He said no amount of infrastructure or road signals will help check the accident rate unless the riders change their mind on road safety. Dishing out statistics, Dhavalikar said of the 290 road accident deaths in Goa last year, 189 deaths involved two-wheeler riders, even as he said that making helmets compulsory has helped to bring down the accident rate.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat urged the transport authorities to lay stress on traffic regulation in the city. He said the deployment of home guards and security guards have failed to bring about the desired result.
In his address, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai called for installation of traffic signals in Fatorda to regulate traffic and bring about traffic discipline. He said he is ready to sponsor the traffic signals or find sponsors if the government has no money to fund the project.
Transport Director Arun Desai said the government will make helmets compulsory on all roads in Goa from April 1. He said the provision making helmets compulsory for two-wheeler riders is contained in the MV Act, adding that the law enforcing agencies are only implementing the provision. “The decision to enforce helmets compulsory for two-wheeler riders is showing positive results”, Arun added.
