Team Herald
PANJIM: As reported by Herald on Thursday, the third Mandovi bridge will be inaugurated on January 27 by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari but will be thrown open to the public only on January 29.
PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar said the flag will be hoisted on the bridge on January 26. “The bridge will be formally inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on January 27 and will be thrown open for public use from January 29,” Dhavalikar said, in the presence of GSIDC vice-chairman Siddharth Kuncoliencar.
Dhavalikar said that two and three wheelers will not be allowed on the bridge, and added that the Rs 600-odd cr bridge will be a relief from the frequent traffic jams at KTC circle.
“We will monitor traffic for eight days starting from Jan 29. The designated speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour. Cameras will monitor the traffic,” Dhavalikar said, adding that the Centre has given a grant of Rs 291 cr so far for the project. “If need be, Panjim traffic can be redesigned,” he added.
Kuncoliencar said cameras on the bridge would be fitted under the Smart City mission by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Corporation. “The cameras would be fitted soon as the work on the same has already begun,” he said.
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MoRTH to decide bridge name, State has no powers: PWD Minister
When pointed out that Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao had demanded that the bridge be named after the Father of the Opinion Poll Dr Jack Sequeira, PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar said the decision would be taken by the Central ministry.
“Decision about naming the third Mandovi bridge will be taken by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH),” Dhavalikar said, adding, “Naming the bridge after any leader is not in our hands. Only MoRTH has the right to decide.”
