India’s road quality to be at par with world’s best by 2024
Panjim: The recent pace of construction of the new 13.20 kms-long Zuari Bridge in Goa is a testament to the new technology that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is using to build bridges across the country,+ Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, said while inaugurating phase 1 of this Rs 2,530-crore Bridge in Goa on December29.
The Zuari Bridge, which is located on the Zuari river at Cortalim village on the Margao-Panaji National Highway, has been built to ease the traffic woes of the state. While this project consists of the new bridge and the approaches from Bambolim to Verna, the 1st Phase comprises the 4-Lane, Right-Hand Side Corridor of the 8-Lane Stayed Cable bridge.
Expressing joy at being present on an occasion where a grand and ambitious project becomes a reality, Gadkari credited the late Goa Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Parrikar as being one of the architects of both the Mandovi bridge and the new stayed cable bridge over the Zuari river.
He also emphasized that the Goa-Mumbai Highway would be completed within the next 7 to 8 months.
The Minister reiterated both the Union and State Governments’ determination to ensure that the planned +Revolving Restaurant+ on the New Zuari Bridge becomes a reality. “With Goa being a beautiful state that attracts tourists from all over the world, it is only fitting that such a bridge should have an additional +first-of-its-kind+ feature,” he said.
Highlighting the Union Government’s commitment to seeing radical improvements in the quality of road infrastructure in the country, Gadkari said that by 2024, the quality of roads in India would be at par with the very best in the world.
Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Naik stated that both the Union and State Governments are working to ensure the holistic development of the state of Goa. The New Zuari Bridge will go a long way towards addressing the traffic woes of ordinary Goans, he added.
Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant thanked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for guiding the state into improved National Highway connectivity and port connectivity. While the bridge – with a first of its kind revolving restaurant — will be a tourist attraction on its own, it will ensure smooth flow of traffic between North and South Goa, Sawant said while also suggesting about a “Light and Sound” show around the bridge as well as a circular road connecting Port, Airport and Railways in the State.
The event also witnessed the launch of a Mobile Application for Integrated Operations Management of the Public Works Department. The Application aims to integrate many operations, starting with acting as a portal for registering complaints on potholes.
The eminent dignitaries present on the occasion included: Goa Public Works Department Minister Nilesh Cabral, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Vinay Tendulkar and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Francisco Sardinha.
