Old Goa-Gaundalim road to be closed from Monday for overbridge construction

Panaji: The road from Old Goa to Gandaulim will be closed for traffic from June 23 onwards as Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) plans to hasten the construction of the road overbridge. The public can take the Banastarim route or the Corlim industrial estate route to head to Marcel, Amona, Sanquelim, and beyond.

“We hope to complete the work by Dec but it could take another month or so if the monsoons carry on for longer,” said Cumbarjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai. “The work will progress faster if the road is closed.”

The stretch experiences traffic snarls every day because of the railway crossing. Peak congestion occurs in the morning when parents ferry their children to school and residents commute to the office. GSIDC initially announced the road closure for the flyover in Feb but did not enforce it as many commuters complained of inconvenience.

The construction work is likely to go on for eight to nine months but could take longer, said GSIDC officials. According to a GSIDC official, around 17 pillars have already been erected. The road overbridge is likely to cost Rs 40 crore to build.

Land acquisition for the road overbridge was completed last year, however, the construction was delayed due to the Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier.