Team Herald
PANJIM: PWD Minister Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar on Monday said that the Centre has granted in-principle approval to projects worth Rs 7000 crore, which includes upgradation of 105 km district highway from Karaswada to Khandepar into national highway (NH).
Addressing media persons, Dhavalikar said projects worth Rs 8000 crore, including the second bridge over River Zuari, are currently in progress and will be completed by end of 2019.
“I would like to state that Centre has sanctioned various projects of nearly Rs 30,000 crore to Goa in the last four years and PWD is one of the biggest beneficiaries with Rs 15,000 crore sanctions,” the Minister said.
Dhavalikar said that recently Rs 7000 crore projects have received in-principle approval from the Centre, including Rs 6000 crore under the Bharat Mala project, wherein 220 kms of road stretch along the tourism areas would be upgraded.
“Also we have got sanction of Rs 800 crore for upgradation of 105 kms district road from Karaswada to Khandepar into National Highway with four laning. The project also includes construction of four bridges at Assonora, Bicholim, Sanquelim and Pale,” he added.
Another Rs 239 crore has been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana for connectivity between village roads to district and State highways, he said, adding that under Sagarmala projects, six jetties – Old Goa, Durbhat, Aldona, Panjim, Dona Paula and Sanvordem, will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 97 crore.
“The other projects sanctioned include the Mollem to Khandepar road, old RTO office, Borim Bridge and Banastarim Bridge,” the Minister added.
Dhavalikar also said that for the first time the department’s annual plan of Rs 750 crore has got sanctioned from the Centre. “We never got above Rs 100 crore under our annual plan. For the first time, Centre has sanctioned Rs 750 crore,” he stated.
Taking a jibe at the former UPA government at the Centre, Dhavalikar said he never managed to get funds above Rs 40 crore under the UPA regime. “The maximum funds that I had received from UPA government were Rs 40 crore,” he said.
