PANJIM: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has urged Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) to ensure that construction of the first phase of the two-lane cantilever bridge across Ourem Creek is completed by September even before its October 2016 deadline.
“I have requested GSIDC to complete the first part of the project by September. Let it be inaugurated and thrown open on October 2,” he said after laying the foundation stone for the project, which announced during his tenure as Chief Minister. The work for the proposed bridge began minutes after the foundation stone laying ceremony held at the site.
The two-lane 103mts Rua de Ourem – Red Bridge linking Mala to Patto Plaza will be constructed at a cost of Rs 24.24crore. Larsen & Toubro Ltd – contractor for the cable stayed four-lane Mandovi Bridge – has been awarded this project too.
Parrikar stated that once completed the bridge is expected to make commuting easier and quicker to areas of Mala, Fontainhas, Bhatlem and Taleigao. “It will reduce traffic load on the old Patto Bridge and cut down the distance of vehicles entering Panjim city and Mala by 1.5 km,” he added. Present were Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, GSIDC chairman Pramod Sawant, EDC Chairman Siddharth Kunkalienkar, Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado and others.
Kunkalienkar said the bridge will not only help cut down the distance to the congested capital city but also reduce traffic in and around the Kadamba interstate bus terminus area. He called upon the people to cooperate with the government for development and do away with forces which obstruct development. The project is expected to be completed in 18 months.
