The contractor for the cable stayed four-lane Mandovi Bridge, Larsen & Toubro Ltd has been awarded the new project too as its bid was the lowest at Rs 24.24 crore, EDC Chairman Siddharth Kunkalienkar said.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, he said the bridge will significantly reduce traffic congestion in the area. “The two-lane bridge will connect the area near Goa State Museum at Patto Plaza to Mala. It will cut down distance of a vehicle entering the capital city and Mala by 1.5 kms and reduce traffic congestion in front of Kadamba bus stand, office of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, the newly constructed multi-level car parking and the Patto bridge,” the Panjim MLA said.
GSIDC, he said, envisages completing the project in 18 months with the first phase expected to be completed in around four months. The bridge will have a direct connection to NH-17 from the city.
Before his elevation to the Union Cabinet, former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had announced in the State budget the construction and development of areas around Patto Plaza including a bridge across the Ourem creek. Parrikar is expected to lay the foundation stone and construction work would also begin the same day, Kunkalienkar said.
