Govt seeks to acquire additional 22ha land for new Borim bridge project

Panaji: The Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) has, through a notification, expressed its interest in acquiring additional land of around 22,500 sq m in the villages of Loutolim, Borim, and Quela for the new Borim bridge and its approach roads.“Any person interested in the said land may, within 21 days from the date of publication of this notification in the official gazette, object to the use of land for the aforesaid purpose. Every such objection shall be made to the competent authority, namely, the special land acquisition officer, PWD-national highways, Altinho, Panaji, in writing. The land plans and other details of lands covered under this notification are available and can be inspected by the interested person at the above-said office of the competent authority,” the notification states.Last year, amid opposition from a group of locals, govt finalised land acquisition for the new Borim bridge, acquiring 3,40,000 sq m of land at Loutolim, Borim, and Bandora villages. A four-lane cable-stayed bridge is planned at Borim.The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 300 crore, including all the approaches to the bridge.The project involves building a new Borim bridge with approaches across the Zuari and a 5.7km bypass to the existing Borim bridge on NH 566.The project is expected to take at least three years to complete.