SUDESH BHOSLE | NT
VASCO: The construction work of two major projects including the remaining portion of the four-lane highway NH17B from Varunapuri Mangor-Hill to berth no-9 of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and the Baina beach beautification work, estimated to cost Rs 548.27 crore, are going on in full swing.
The construction of the remaining portion of the four-lane highway will include an elevated road-cum-flyover-cum-road over bridge (ROB) from Joshi Bhat to berth no- 9 of MPT via Ravindra Bhavan besides loop connectivity ramps. The total cost of the balance portion of the four-lane highway is around Rs 546 crore. The constriction work has been awarded to Gammon India Pvt Ltd.
A visit to the site has revealed that the construction work of the elevated road is in full swing wherein Gammon India Pvt Ltd till date has erected 36 pillars (piers).
The excavation work of the four-lane highway from Varunapuri Mangor-Hill junction to Gandhinagar is also going on in right earnest. During the last four to five years, the incomplete stretch of the four-lane highway near Varunapuri Mangor-Hill junction had become a parking hub. The contractors involved in the construction work have taken special care of the underground multipurpose petroleum pipeline of Zuari Indian Oil Tanking Ltd (ZIOTL) which had once suffered a rupture while carrying out an excavation work, resulting in a major fire due to leakage of naphtha.
The other major work in progress is the Baina beach beautification. The project is estimated to cost Rs 2.27 crore and it will be completed phase-wise. Baina beach was in neglect for the past several years. It was once a ‘Choupati’ where people used to visit the beach and spend their leisure time in the evening.
Power Minister Milind Naik, who represents the Mormugao constituency, disclosed that two projects involving the balance portion of the four-lane highway and the Baina beach beautification work would give a facelift to the port town. “There was an urgent need for having a port connectivity. Hence, the construction of the four-lane highway will help in diverting heavy traffic from town roads, minimising congestion and accidents which are on the rise,” said Naik.
“I had approached the Minister for Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari through the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar which has resulted in the central government sanctioning Rs 546 crore for the construction of the balance portion of NH17B,” said Naik.
“The four-lane highway will be a boon to Vasco town, port and the state economy. The highway will also help industries to flourish,” added Naik.
“I am consistently following the progress on the four-lane highway with Gammon India Pvt Ltd to whom the work was awarded,”said Naik and further informed that the work is expected to be completed within three years of its scheduled time.
“I am totally satisfied with the pace of work carried out by Gammon India Pvt Ltd on the four-lane highway including the construction work of the elevated road-cum-flyover-cum-road over bridge from Joshi Bhat to berth no-9 of MPT,” he said.
He maintained that the beautification of Baina beach will make the port town a tourist spot. “Thanks to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, former chief minister Parrikar and the Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar for allocating the required funds for beautification of Baina beach,” he said.
He said that the beautified Baina beach will be thrown open for the visitors during the coming summer season. “The idea behind constructing the elevated road-cum-flyover-cum -road over bridge was to make Baina beach access free from any kind of hurdles to the people,” added Naik. He said that nearly 35 percent of work on Baina beach beautification has been completed.