Panaji: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday announced central approval for highway projects in Goa worth over Rs 4,000 crore, including the Mollem-Khandepar highway expansion and a new bridge at Borim, each estimated at around Rs 2,000 crore.As per Goa govt’s request, state will get two new national highways from Balli to Betul ONGC and from Karaswada to Sanquelim, he said after inaugurating the Rs 641 crore and 5.1km long six-lane Centre-funded Porvorim elevated corridor.“Acquire land and get environment clearances for Borim bridge and you will get the Rs 2,000 crore,” Gadkari said,He said Porvorim will be relieved of congestion with the six-lane corridor which has come up above a four-lane road and it will also serve as an important link in Mumbai to Kanyakumari corridor.“When foundation work began, the depth turned out to be much more than estimated. Contractor came to me and said he would experience losses. I asked them whether they would have come to me if the depth turned out to be less and they profited from the estimate. I told them you will have to do it or else I will start proceedings against you. I told them that we will try to give compensation wherever legally possible. The contractor should be congratulated for completing the work within stipulated time,” said Gadkari.He said that the Mumbai to Goa highway work has seen unfortunate delays and embarrassed by it, he had initially said he would not attend the inauguration.“We have a record of carrying out highway work. Now over the next one year I will carry out record debarring of contractors, blacklisting and start acting against officials. The highway work is now 93% complete and I will soon travel by road on it to review the work myself,” said the Union minister.He asked chief minister Pramod Sawant to create hubs where petrol, diesel, biofuel, electric charging is all available for vehicles and he said that Goan food, art, culture and handloom should be showcased at these spaces.Gadkari asked Sawant to incorporate features of Goan architecture in the design and Centre would fund such hubs.
