There is a ray of hope as work on the long-pending Virdi-Amona bridge, which has seen two foundation stones, has restarted.
“We have got all the approvals and will complete the bridge by December 2016. The work on the bridge remained pending for the last one year as the matter was sub-judice,” GSIDC chairman and Sankhali MLA, Dr Pramod Sawant said.
When the bridge was initially proposed, the cost was estimated at Rs 3 crore. However, after the foundation stone was laid, the government neglected the project and despite completing the procedure to acquire the land, the project could not see the light of day.
Not only this, but the bridge has seen two foundation stones laid by different chief ministers. The foundation stone for the Virdi-Amona bridge was first laid by then Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane on April 4, 2007 in the presence of then Power Minister Digambar Kamat.
As demands for the bridge began to grow, the BJP government re-laid the foundation stone on October 13, 2013 and then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured that the bridge would be a reality within 18 months.
After the second foundation stone was laid there was another glitch. The project was further held up due to a legal battle by a person claiming a paltry 31 sq mts of land at the proposed site.
Now, after nearly a decade, work on the bridge has restarted, providing much to the relief of the villagers. “We have won the case pending with the deputy collector and so the work is now being carried out in full swing,” Sawant said.
The bridge will benefit the people of Virdi as the distance between Marcel and the village will be cut down to about 3 kms as against the current distance of 18 kms.
