PRATIK PARAB
pratik@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: With the current pace of work on the Nuvem-Navelim stretch of Margao bypass, the government is unlikely to throw open the road for traffic on schedule in 2018-19.
Though officials claim that the Nuvem-Navelim stretch would be completed on schedule, one can see lot of work on the same is yet to be completed. In fact, the longest stretch on the bypass (3-5 kms) is yet to be taken on the plan and work is yet to begin.
The nearly 12-kilometer stretch of Margao bypass is under construction since 2016 and a substantial distance of the road has been completed till date. According to officials, the total cost of this bypass is around Rs 274 crore. While some stretches were completed on time, work on others is yet to commence.
According to officials, the delay in starting the work on some stretches was due to opposition by local villagers. They said that work on the stretch from Agnel Ashram to Verna bypass is yet to begin, due to delay in land acquisition process.
On a visit to the camp site, Herald found that the land filling along the Nuvem-Fatorda stretch has been completed, but it is yet to be tarred.
It may be recalled that following opposition from locals for land filling in Saipem Lake, the State government had agreed in-principle to build the western bypass on stilts over Saipem lake in Navelim.
Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro too took up the issue with the chief minister and obtained an assurance from him that the bypass on Saipem lake would be built on stilts.
“The discussions with the chief minister over the work were fruitful. The chief minister has assured to find a solution to all the problems,” Luizinho had said then.
