PANJIM: The villagers of Corlim, Gandaulim and surrounding areas in Tiswadi Taluka have strongly opposed the move to widen the National Highway-4A as it was passing through thickly populated residential areas.
One of the villagers, Alexander Gomes informed that the project was earlier dropped by the government in 2016.
He said, “There was no justification to construct the National Highway-4A passing through Corlim village because of various reasons such as Major District Road (MDR) of 25-metre width proposed by the government in the Regional Plan 2021 starting from Agasaim through Corlim fields and joining at Banastarim Bridge or could be extended to Kundaim Industrial Estate, which could absorb 15 to 20 per cent of present traffic load.”
Gomes further said that there is another option for diversion of a road starting from Old Goa to Gaundalim, Marcel, Amona to Sanquelim, which could connect to Chorla Ghat.
Similarly, the present new Zuari Bridge which is due for commissioning will cater to 60 per cent of the present traffic load on Corlim NH-4A, he said adding that all this supports villagers’ contention that the proposal for land acquisition is irrelevant and should be dropped.
Gomes demanded that the recommendations made by former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar for a suggested diversion including a route parallel to the railway lines from Karmali skirting the lake on the outskirts through the Corlim fields to Curti-Ponda or possibly to Balli should be seriously considered.
According to Gomes, all the affected villagers residing on either side of the Corlim road met recently and decided to vehemently oppose the proposed widening of the road.
He said that the villagers residing from Ribandar to Ponda areas have been protesting and agitating against the national highway since 2007 as these areas are thickly populated with residential houses and shops on the side, commencing from Karmali Bridge, petrol pump up to Banastarim Bridge.
