while other structures which have been existing at the side of the road would be safe and would not face any demolition.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with concerned villagers along with the department officials looking after the project so as to explain the new Parallel Zuari Bridge alignment plan to the people Saldanha clarified, “I was also anxious on behalf of the people about the consequences of bridge alignment on the houses located besides the road at Cortalim, but when I came on the site and after the department official’s explained about the alignment, I have realized that no houses are going to be touched, except for two shades which are fully coming up in the land already acquired by the government many years ago.”
“It has been informed to me and to the villagers that, once the work on the bridge with flyover begins, then, some temporary slip roads would be provided to divert the traffic and these slip roads would exist only for the period of three months thereafter the traffic would again go back on the present road and there is no reason for the villagers to worry,” she said.
Commenting on the benefits on the Zuari Bridge, Saldanha said, “The best part of the bridge is that there would be decongestion on the existing road as once the flyover is constructed connecting to the new parallel bridge, majority of traffic would be diverted through the flyover passing the village, which in turn would be very much beneficial for the people who are living on the road as they would be ease off crossing the road much safely then under present situation. It is also important to note that people presently living near the road alignment would be allowed to use the space after completion of the project however they would not be allowed to do any new construction, which is confortable for the people who were having fear of losing their house due to the project”.
Blaming the Cortalim-Quelossim panchayat, Saldanha claimed, “It is given to understand that the department concerned had asked the panchayat to study the plan of the road passing through their respective villages. It was the duty of the panchayat to do what they were asked to do and to inform the villagers about the project alignment but this has not happened. Also when the foundation stone for the project was to be held at Goa Velha, I took up initiative and sent notices to all the churches, temples to tell the people to come for the function moreover to learn about the project.”
