Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: Dedication to the nation and laying of foundation stones of 6 national highway projects of 49 kms length worth investment of Rs.3,840 crores to take place on Monday evening at the hands of Union Minister for Roads Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
As per the available information, these national highway projects are boasted to be state-of-the-art projects, consisting of 4-laning of National Highway 66 from Patradevi to Karaswada worth Rs.634 crore, 4 laning of National Highway 66 from Karaswada to Bambolim worth Rs. 853 crore, Margao Western Bypass worth Rs. 354 crore and lastly and most importantly the Port connectivity Road-Loop 1 worth Rs. 546 crore.
The Port operations and Port connectivity being a vital aspect, people were pleased to see the long-awaited dream to have better infrastructure come into reality.
When contacted former Vasco MLA and present Congress party leader Carlos Almeida, he said, “It is indeed a proud moment for Goans that the Port Connectivity Road-Loop 1 is dedicated to the nation today.
With this new highway, traffic accidents in Vasco involving heavy vehicles which have taken the lives of many Vasco residents over the years will be a thing of the past”.
He further mentioned that traffic congestion and pollution in Vasco city will be reduced with heavy traffic diverting along the new highway. “Also, at this time, one should not forget the efforts of the then Revenue Minister, late Dr Wilfred Mesquita, in completing the process of acquiring/handing over of the land to MPT”.”It is also praiseworthy to mention the efforts of former Chief Minister of Goa, late Manohar Parrikar, for his insistence that the road stretch from Baina last stop to Desterro be built on stilts to safeguard the access to the Baina beach for fishermen and to the general public. A word of appreciation to Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, for taking this project to its logical conclusion,” Almeida said.
