TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a major development, the Goa government has transferred the long pending incomplete NH17-B four-lane project to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). The project was transferred to the GSIDC and approved by the Board at its meeting held Friday.
The work of the NH17-B four -lane highway connecting Verna to Mormugao Port had commenced in 1997. However only 13 kilometers of the stretch from Verna Junction to Varunapuri-Mangor Hill junction has been completed by the National Highway Authority of India.
The balance 5.3 kilometers stretch connecting Varunapuri to the Port Town is left incomplete for more than three years even as the State government has been pushing with the Central government for its approval to take over this work along with the other two projects of widening National Highway 17 (Pattradevi to Pollem) and NH 4-A (Panjim to Karnataka Border).
The decision to transfer the construction of the incomplete four-lane project of NH 17-B to the GSIDC has raised eyebrows as the projects were supposedly to be handled by the Public Works Department (PWD).
This is the second major work being entrusted to the GSIDC from the PWD, the first being the mega work of construction grade separators at Dabolim airport in a bid to decongest the airport junction and create easy access and exits near the new airport terminus.
The GSIDC was however unable to divulge any details on the latest transfer of the project for completing NH 17-B.
“We will have to appoint a consultant and ascertain the scope of work and alignment aspects,” said a top official in the Corporation. Likewise the funding modalities are also not yet known. Speculations are that the government is likely to transfer several more works to the GSIDC in the days to come. Questions have also come to the fore on whether the six lane new bridge over River Zuari may also be handed over to the Corporation.
In the meantime, the GSIDC Board has approved tenders for connecting Chorao to Salvador do Mundo and tenders were floated Saturday. This is one of the six bridges proposed by the government . The bridge connecting Calvin to Aldona is expected to be completed by July this year.
The GSIDC Board also reviewed on-going works of school repairs, upgradation of works at Goa Medical College and the cleaning of waste along the National Highways.
It was also decided to extend this drive to Major District Roads and the modalities would be worked out shortly.
