NT NETWORK
VASCO
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, on Sunday, said that the work on construction of eight-lane Zuari bridge project, from Bambolim to Verna, will be completed by the end of December 2018, and it will be inaugurated on January 26, 2019.
Gadkari was speaking to media after inspecting the ongoing construction work of the bridge from a special ramp erected at Agassaim, in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking further, Gadkari said that the bridge, which would be a major connectivity between North and South Goa districts, would be an added attraction for the tourists coming to the state, due to its special features like viewing towers with gallery atop.
Dilip Buildcom Ltd (DBL), which has been assigned the construction work of the bridge, has mobilised the required machinery, and the work is being carried out in full swing.
“The bridge would have two iconic towers and it would be a major attraction,” said Gadkari.
He said that the major problem of land acquisition for the project has been resolved with the intervention of the Chief Minister Parrikar.
There are some minor land acquisition issues which will be resolved by the state government, he said, adding the periodic review meetings by the concerned authorities will be held to ensure that no hurdles remain in the path of the bridge construction.
He said that during the monsoon season, the work will be carried out at a slow pace, while during the rest of the seasons, the work will be at full throttle so that it is completed within the stipulated time frame.
Commenting on linking the airports with waterways, he said that “We want to examine the possibility of linking the airports with waterways.”
“Once a tourist arrives in Goa, he can be taken through a cable car to the waterways from there he can be travel to his hotel,” he said adding the state government is examining the feasibility of connecting the Mopa airport through waterways, like the way Venice Marco Polo Airport in Italy is connected with waterways.
While commenting on the four-lane and six-lane road connectivity from Mumbai to Goa and from Goa to Mangalore, Gadkari said that “from Panvel to Goa border, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has divided the work of four lane and six lane concrete roads into phases.
Except for Kashedi Ghat tunnel on Mumbai-Goa highway, we have allotted all other works, he added.
He said that in Goa, there are three phases including Zuari bridge and two other road projects, works for which have already been started. Besides that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to allot the work of road leading to Mangalore from Panaji.
