PANJIM: India’s third largest cable stayed bridge over River Mandovi “Atal Setu”, named after former Indian Prime Minister and BJP stalwart late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Sunday.
A huge crowd of over 5,000 people arrived at the new structure to welcome Parrikar for his first-ever public appearance since he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago.
The Chief Minister put up a brave show and even addressed the gathering.
Parrikar recalled how he dreamt to make Goa’s infrastructure world-class from the time he became chief minister for the first time in the year 2002.
“When I became CM for the first time, I had one
famous statement in mind that of former president of US late John F Kennedy who had said, “American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good. This famous statement was in my mind since childhood,” the Chief Minister said, He recalled that he had crossed the old Mandovi Bridge just 15 minutes before it collapsed in the year 1986.
Parrikar said that the development of Goa was not in the hands of the State because of its small size and the expenditure was huge.
“Goa requires Rs 25,000 crore budget for development but Goa’s total budget size is Rs 15,000 crore. If we have to do it on our own, we will require 14 years. That is why we required some financial help,” he said.
Parrikar said he considers Nitin Gadkari his hero.
Slamming the opponents for campaigning against the bridge on social media, Parrikar said the structure is constructed from the money of the common man.
He said it is the people who would be saving their money as they would save on fuel when they travel on this bridge.
“The bridge is completed due to people’s efforts. This is a project that was completed within five years,” he said.
Parrikar thanked former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar for being present at the function and praised him for running the State successfully during his absence when he was the union defence minister in the year 2014.
Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik, MPs Narendra Sawaikar and Vinay Tendulkar, Speaker Dr Pramod Sawant, Cabinet ministers and ruling MLAs attended the function.
Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco was also present.
