Centre clears 26,000 sqm land for Priol–Kundaim flyover landing, but yet to issue work order

Ponda: With no objections received, the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) has gazetted the acquisition of around 26,000sqm of land between Priol and Kundaim.Land required for the main road was acquired earlier, and a tender worth Rs 273 crore has already been floated and awarded to Gurugram-based GeetAsia Pvt Ltd. However, work is yet to begin as Union govt has not yet issued the work order.“This is an additional area. It was needed only for curve development and the flyover landing, as the flyover landing needs some extra space,” said Anand Vaghurmekar, assistant engineer, national highway division, PWD.Under the project, a six-lane flyover will be constructed between Dilasa Palliative Care Centre and the Farmagudi traffic police station, while the remaining stretches will be four-lane roads. Mardol and Mangeshi junctions will have 60-metre-wide underpasses, and a 20-metre-wide underpass will come up near Vaishali hotel at Kundaim. A vehicular overpass is planned at the major circle near the GVM’s College complex.MoRTH had issued a notification in April last year inviting public objections. As none were received, a fresh notification was published on Saturday under Section 3D of the National Highways Act, declaring that the land now vests with central govt free of encumbrances.Vaghurmekar said there was an error in the notification, noting that the actual land area is 2.63 hectares, not 4.63 hectares, and that a corrigendum will be issued. He added that highway widening work will begin once the central govt issues the work order to the Haryana-based company.