TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The new four-lane cable-stayed bridge across River Mandovi with two flyovers on both the sides would be completed in next 24 months, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced on Tuesday and the work order for the Rs 470 crores project, would be issued by Thursday evening.
Addressing media, Parrikar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would officially flag-off work on the third bridge over River Mandovi on June 14 evening at Kala Academy at 4.45 pm.
During the monsoons, the contractor and GSIDC would carry out soil testing while the actual construction work of the bridge would begin after September 15, Parrikar said. The work for the bridge would be undertaken by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation. “The estimated completion time is 24 months from June 14 but we are looking to complete it within 20 months,” Parrikar said adding that all the permissions required for the construction of the bridge are on board with the finance committee set to open the financial bid for the project Wednesday evening.
Chief Minister said that the 2.2 kilometre long bridge would cover 600 metres of River Mandovi basin. The bridge would be 15 metres above the existing twin bridges on River Mandovi and would be illuminated with the LED lights at night, he added.
The first flyover will start near Pundalik Nagar junction at Porvorim and end near the Merces junction. Another flyover starting from the Merces-Old Goa bypass road will join the Mandovi Bridge for traffic from Ponda to go towards Margao. The bridge was conceptualized by LKS India Private Limited, which has been entrusted with the task of preparing a master plan for Panjim.
“The new bridge will facilitate the free flow of traffic from North Goa to South Goa without causing congestion near Panjim KTC bus stand as it happens now,” Parrikar said.
