On traffic diversion, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar government’s allies at loggerheads

DABOLIM: As a part of the proposal to divert vehicular visitors moving between Panaji and Margao, a delegation of ministers surveyed the Verna-Chicalim course and advised measures to deal with further visitors and mitigate visitors snarls. While a final resolution on the diversion may just no longer be arrived at, it did deliver to fore the differences between cupboard individuals of the Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government regarding the proposed closure of the Verna to Cortalim stretch of NH 17. After a back and forth between PWD minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar and TCP minister Vijai Sardesai, the latter walked out.

TCP minister Vijai Sardesai calls diversion proposal a bother, says it's going to impact tourism

Sardesai, panchayat minister Mauvin Godinho and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha have been present for the inspection, which was led by means of Dhavalikar. Sardesai was vocal about his war of words with the proposal to divert visitors and insisted that the perfect resolution was to keep the Verna to Cortalim stretch open for visitors.

TCP minister Vijai Sardesai (Right) needs the diversion to be diminished or avoided altogether.

Speaking to journalists, Dhavalikar said that the PWD would prepare tentative drawings over the following two to 4 days indicating which roads could be widened and where change routes might be used to divert cars.

“Unless and till all works are finished and done, we will be able to no longer divert visitors,” he said.

“I will’t come up with a time period, but it's going to no longer take greater than 3 months. Over the following two days, PWD will prepare drawings of the proposed interventions.”

While the PWD has but to finalize the diversion technique, a tentative plan is to divert visitors heading from Margao to Panaji through Sancoale.

“The course that we take note is to divert visitors that is going from Margao to Panaji by means of the Sancoale shortcut,” Dhavalikar said.

“This might be a one-way road. We will widen the street. The similar course can be utilized by means of cars going from Margao to Vasco. Thus, the visitors going to Panaji gets an alternative course.”

Sardesai made no bones about his objection to this type of proposal which he termed a “trouble”. He also warned that the diversion would impact tourism and would “kill the golden goose”.

“This entire workout seems to have been finished with a call already taken on diverting visitors, and It's not that i am in settlement with this,” Sardesai said while speaking in the presence of Dhavalikar. Dhavalikar tried to assuage Sardesai's issues but to no avail and Sardesai due to this fact walked away from the assembly.

“If that (diversion) can also be diminished or avoided, then it's just right for the folks of Salcete. Otherwise this can be a trouble,” Sardesai said.

“I'm nonetheless of the hope that this diversion can also be avoided. This is what the folks of South Goa need. The overtime and distance that individuals will commute isn't conducive for college kids, office-goers, vacationers and sufferers.”

Dhavalikar, alternatively, indicated that a diversion was a need as construction of the new Zuari bridge was on at full tempo.

“That is why one stretch of the street for the construction of the third segment of Zuari needs to be closed,” he said. “Now, if we close the stretch, we need to make certain that there is clean flow of visitors, and this is why we had this inspection or survey.”

The delivery minister has proposed widening of the Goa International Airport to Chicalim road. Godinho, who is the Dabolim MLA, had bigger plans.

“We have proposed to construct some increased parts, some new bridges and widen the opposite roads,” he said. “We have advised all this to the PWD minister.”