Canca footpath to be ready in 9 months: Tourism corp to HC

Panaji: Construction of the

footpath

in Verla

Canca

will be completed in

nine

months, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (

GTDC

) submitted to the high court.

The high court is hearing a public interest petition (PIL) demanding footpaths for pedestrians.

The contractor was instructed to commence work on June 24, 2021, and on July 1 commenced work. The contractor has completed excavation to construct a foundation for the 150m side wall on the right side leading from the Verla Canca circle towards Mapusa, as well as the excavation and soiling for road widening — 180m in length on the right side of the same stretch.

“The said work was kept on hold in the last week of July on account of heavy rain, due to which the pace of the work has been adversely affected. Further, during excavation of the retaining wall, it is noticed that the water beneath gushes and hence it becomes difficult to carry out masonary work for the retaining wall. However, the work shall be undertaken at its optimum pace soon after monsoon,” executive engineer (North Goa), GTDC, M P Balan stated.

GTDC through an e-tender had issued a work order dated August 16, 2019, to M/s Bagkiya Constructions Pvt Ltd, but work couldn’t start immediately due to illegal encroachments on the property, Balan stated. The court was told that three out of the 16 illegal encroachments have been demolished.

The project comprises construction of a 850m-long roadside pathway for pedestrians with a ramp on either side, provision for service lines, underground drainage systems on either sides of the road as well as illumination of the road and pathway, development and beautification of the traffic island at temple junction.