The work on the approach road of the new four lanes Khandepar approach road would commence after the monsoon
Issue pending in the Court settled, says PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar
Goemkarponn desk
PONDA: The work on the new Khandepar four-lane bridge towards the Ponda side will commence in the monsoon as the issue of the house located on the approach road alignment is settled.
The bridge which was inaugurated without completion, could easily be termed as iconic blunder.
“The house is demolished recently, and work on the approach towards the Ponda side would begin after the monsoon,” said PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar
He said the old house structure issue in approaching Khandepar new bridge was sub-judice, and the case has been settled now.
Two years ago, the bridge was inaugurated without approach the road at Ponda side as the matter of house located on approach road alignment was sub-judice.
The traffic flow from the Belgaum side was diverted towards Ponda through the service road of the bridge for the past two years while the old bridge was used for plying traffic from Ponda to Belgaum.
There were traffic congestions and frequent accidents on Khandepar road in the absence of an approach road, which would be solved now.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar recalled that the new Khandepar bridge was inaugurated two years ago without completing the approach road towards one side of the bridge.
The approach road issue was pending in court, and the contractor had abandoned the work.
The matter is now resolved, and the compensation for the house will be deposited in the owner’s account.
The approach road would begin soon after tender approval by NH Authorities, said PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar speaking to media.
An incomplete and unused portion of the four-lane Khandepar Bridge approach road has become a haven for drunkards. The worried locals have called upon the authorities, especially the police, to crack down on the drunkards who have turned the place their den.
Ponda MLA Ravi Naik inspected the newly constructed Khandepar bridge and expressed his disappointment over the incomplete bridge, which was hurriedly inaugurated two years ago.
Initially, the bridge cost was estimated at Rs 287 crore, which has now increased to Rs 389 crore, including the cost of acquiring land for a ramp, which is yet to be constructed.