TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday stated that work on the remaining 2.5 km portion of the four-lane highway will commence by December.
Parrikar, who was on a visit to inspect the Mormugao fort, was briefing the media in the presence of Power Minister Milind Naik, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, South Goa Collector N D Agrawal and GIDC MD Sanjith Rodrigues.
Parrikar told reporters that consultants are already being appointed and the remaining stretch of the four-lane highway from Varunapuri to Gandhi Nagar will start by the first week of December.
“But the construction work of the elevated corridor (a bridge from Joshi Bhat to Berth 9) will take some more time,” added Parrikar.
It may be recalled that about a decade ago, the construction work of the four-lane highway came to a grinding halt due to reported political interference, as some houses at Varunapuri, Katem-Baina, and about 300 houses at Headland Sada faced demolition since the area was required to construct the four-lane highway.
Further work was stopped on August 19, 2011, when the four-lane highway contractor, appointed by the National Highway Authority of India, accidentally damaged the naphtha pipeline while digging to construct a culvert at Varunapuri.
The 13-km route from Verna junction to Varunapuri has been completed, while the incomplete route from Varunapuri to Berth 9 is 2.5 kms.
In the absence of a completed 4-lane highway linking Verna and MPT via Varunapuri, heavy vehicles are forced to proceed between Verna and MPT via Chicalim and Vasco city. This has led to a number of mishaps in Vasco city.
Speaking further, Parrikar said he has also inspected the Mormugao fort and has directed the Collector of Archives to demarcate the area and construct a motorable approach road to the fort so that tourists can visit it. “Henceforth, the Mormugao fort will be maintained by the Directorate of Archaeology,” he added.
Parrikar said he has received a complaint from the Sada youth that the MPT did not allow them to use the playground.
“However, when I took up the matter with the MPT officials, I was told that CRPF found some broken beer bottles and that the youth are involved in anti-social activities. Hence, the youth from Sada are not allowed to use the playground,” informed the chief minister.
