-- Samir Umarye
PANAJI The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has in principle approved the state government’s request to declare the road between Mapusa and Usgao via Bicholim as a national highway (NH). Earlier this year, a proposal was sent by the Public Works Department of the state to the MoRTH requesting it to declare the roads between Mapusa and Bicholim and from Bicholim to Usgao as a national highway. The MoRTH has approved the road stretch measuring about 40 kilometres. However, the national highway number is yet to be announced. Confirming the news, a senior official of the PWD said, “In principle, MoRTH has given the approval but the detailed project report is yet to be prepared.” “The department is further preparing a proposal to request for another national highway connecting the NH-4A and NH-17. The proposal will request the Centre to declare the road from Dharbandora to Balli via Sanvordem as a national highway,” the official said. Both the national highways will lead to decongestion of the existing roads and ease travel for commuters. Heavy vehicles too will have easier access to their destinations due to the new national highway links. Sources in the PWD said the Mapusa-Usgao project is expected to cost over Rs 500 crore as road expansion is a major component of the project. Whether the road will be converted into a four-lane road or not is yet to be decided. The national highway would require land for expansion which is considered to be the biggest constraint for the government. The detailed study by the department officials to ascertain the detailed project report (DPR) is expected soon. The DPR will consist of the villages the national highway will pass through and provide details of the bypasses to be constructed wherever required. Two bypass roads are expected, one at Thivim and another at Bicholim. Both the projects will be taken up by MoRTH on engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) basis thereby setting aside the need for a consultant thus enhancing the pace of the project. MoRTH will nominate engineers, who will be responsible for the completion of the projects.(NT)
