09-09-2013 … Pwd minister sudhin dhavlikar has said that the state government was in the process of appointing consultancy services for the construction of two bridges of zuari and khandepar in goa
The consultants will prepare detailed project reports (DPR) for the two bridges after which tenders would be invited for the construction of the bridges ..
It may be noted that the go-ahead came when Dhavalikar called on the Union minister for road transport and highways Oscar Fernandes recently and extending his support, Fernandes had asked for preparation of DPRs when Dhavalikar had met him in New Delhi recently.
Dhavalikar said that the DPRs will take at least three months to prepare and that they will provide the estimated costs and the kind of technology to be used and once the tenders are awarded, the government expects the Zuari bridge to be constructed over NH 17 within three-and-a-half years and Khandepar over NH 4-A in a two-year period.
Speaking to goanreporter pwd minister sudhin dhavlikar said the central union minister for ministry of road, transport and highways mr Oscar rebello had given its approval for the state to appoint consultant for both the bridges in goa and by end of September even the technical as well as financial bid of the same would be opened
For more than a decade, the government has been trying to pursue for a parallel Zuari bridge considering that it had faced some minor problems in the past. Some years ago, it was to be a part of the four/six laning of NH 17 which was a project of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). But with protests over land acquisition and demolition of houses, the project was abandoned. The BJP government has tried to get permission from the Centre to go ahead with the bridge which is pending since November 2012.
Dhavlikar said that the state government could not decide on constructing the two bridges unless dpr was prepared and approved by the central union ministry
