NT Reporter
Panaji
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has questioned the planning and execution of the newly inaugurated six-lane Porvorim elevated corridor, saying local residents who endured two and a half years of heavy disruptions are now being left out of the project’s benefits.
Speaking to reporters, Khaunte criticised the decision-making process during the flyover’s construction, and said he was not consulted on the closure of the exit and entry points.
“Two lives have been lost due to rash and reckless driving. We have to condemn this type of driving and build awareness. There is no point in a blame game over what has happened, but what people from Porvorim are saying is absolutely justified,” he said. “We have suffered day and night for the last two and a half to three years while standing by the project,” he said.
His statement comes in the wake of public outcry from Porvorim and Panaji residents over the lack of access to and from Atal Setu. Citizens have been criticising politicians over the fanfare organised by the government for the corridor’s inauguration.
Khaunte said he had previously suggested connecting one arm of the corridor to Atal Setu and another downward loop similar to the design implemented at the Zuari Bridge, but his inputs were overlooked.
Responding to officials categorising the stretch as part of National Highway 66 (NH 66), Khaunte said, “Yes, it is part of a national highway, but it passes through a state with heavy local traffic. The PWD engineering team and project consultants need to sit down and sort this out quickly. I have urged PWD Minister Digambar Kamat to convene an urgent meeting to address these grievances.”
Referring to the water-logging on the elevated road on Wednesday night after a heavy shower, he said it was “a small engineering thing,” but there must be accountability.
“The engineers are working like horses without applying their minds. How would the water drain? They should have known. This is common engineering. Some engineers need to be given a refresher course.”
Analysts stated that the government, which got a huge mileage for the Porvorim corridor, is now under severe criticism after the fatal accident. They said that with the government’s celebration period, amid credit-taking by politicians, ending abruptly and the project receiving negative publicity, there seems to be a blame game within the government over the issue.
Meanwhile, amid concerns over safety and entry-exit bottlenecks, a senior PWD official said, “The IIM Nagpur’s expert team is expected to arrive in the state within a day or two to begin their field assessment.”
