The Union minister said that the new cable-stayed bridge across the river Zuari is estimated to cost Rs 2,000 crore along with an elevated road from Bambolim to Verna while Goa-Mumbai will be connected by a concrete road costing Rs 1000 crore. According to the minister, the engineering of this road will be such that the turns and the slopes will be planned to give a smooth ride to vehicles.
Gadkari said that the ‘bhoomipujan’ for the Zuari bridge would be on Goa’s Liberation Day, December 19. He also said that as per the earlier announcement of the five Goan rivers being included in the 101 rivers designated as inland waterways, two including the Mandovi would come up in the first phase. The five rivers are Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Mapusa and Sal.
He said that ports will be set up and development done on these river banks so that the rivers can be initially used for transportation of industrial goods and then later for passenger traffic.
“The cabinet has approved to develop 101 rivers across the country for inland water ways which includes five in Goa,” he said in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
He also urged the state to take up land acquisition for starting projects, where the Centre will render its full support and sought the conversion of these places into smart cities in an attempt to popularize the state among the tourists even more than with its present assets.
Earlier he handed over sanction letters for building the Margao western bypass, Verna-Loutolim missing link and Talpona-Galgibaga bridge besides the Canacona bypass which are to cost Rs 1,211 crore and would be fully funded by the Centre.
Concerned about serious and fatal accidents on the Mumbai-Goa road, the Union minister also announced a Rs 1,000-crore package for a four-lane cement concrete road. “I am sensitive towards this issue (accidents). The work will begin from this year,” he said.
He also said that approval was given for the NH 17 from Patradevi to Polem, and NH 4 from Panjim to Mollem. He revealed that the consultancy letter has already been given with the work expected to be completed in two and half years.
While announcing the packages, Gadkari urged the state to set up a unit for identifying accident prone zones where modalities can be worked out to curb accidents.
The minister reiterated that Goa has been given importance by the Centre especially with the allocation of fund essentially because of three MPs – Manohar Parrikar (defence minister), Shripad Naik (Ayush minister) and Narendra Sawaikar.
Parrikar told the gathering they were also considering development at the Borim bridge in the next four-to-five months. Taking a dig at the former UPA government, the former Goa chief minister said the work on the NH has been on fast track during the BJP tenure, which was barely evident earlier.
