PANAJI, Goa: Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, inaugurated phase 1 of the new Zuari Bridge in Goa. Under this phase, four-lane right-hand side corridors and eight-lane stayed cable bridge has been inaugurated on the river Zuari at Cortalim village on the Margao-Panaji National Highway to ease the traffic woes of the state. The project costs ₹2,530 crore and has a total length of 13.20 km.
Expressing his joy at being present at the event, Gadkari credited the late Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar for being the architect of both the new stayed cable bridge and the Mandovi Bridge. He also mentioned that the Goa-Mumbai Highway will be completed by July-August, 2023, and by 2024, the nation will have, at par, the very best quality of roads in the world.
Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Government of India, said that both the central and the state governments are working towards the holistic development of the state and that the Zuari Bridge will go a long way towards addressing the traffic woes.
Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant stated that the bridge will be a tourist attraction as well as a circular road connecting the airport, railways, and seaport. He also pitched for a Light and Sound show around the bridge.
A mobile application for Integrated Operations Management of the Public Works Department was also launched at the event. The application is a portal for registering complaints on potholes and plans to integrate many other operations.
The event witnessed attendance of eminent dignitaries including Nilesh Cabral, Minister of Goa Public works Department, Government of Goa, Vinay Tendulkar, MP of Rajya Sabha, and Francisco Sardinha, MP of Lok Sabha.