Ponda market in final stages of completion

PANAJI: While work of the Ponda market is in the advanced stages of completion, work of the new Mapusa fish market is in the early stages and the work of the Mapusa vegetable market is awaiting technical sanction. All three projects are being handled by the Goa state urban development agency (GSUDA).
Official sources said that the lower ground floor of the Ponda market meant for parking is 75% complete.
The upper ground floor, mezzanine floor, first, second floor the cement block masonry work and sand plastering is complete.
The third floor and fourth floor, masonry work and simultaneously plastering work are in progress including external plastering. Flooring work upto the second floor is complete. The structural steel truss fabrication and erection is in progress.
The work is being executed on available site handed over to the GSUDA by the Ponda municipal council but 25% of the site is yet to be handed over by the Ponda municipal council.
The civil and plumbing work is being executed by R B S Candiaparkar of Ponda. The extended date of completion of the project is May 31, 2011. Once completed, the market will be handed over to the Ponda municipal market for operation, maintenance and for generation of revenue for the smooth functioning of the council.
As regards the new fish market at Mapusa, the work order was issued on November 2, 2010. The work of demolition of existing dilapidated building above and below ground level has been completed.
Due to non-availability of jambawood piles of required sizes, the consultant has proposed alternate type of foundation, i.e. cast bored-in-situ RCC piles of 500mm to 600 mm diameter of M30 grade having nil financial implications and has advantage of increased load carrying capacity to cater to two additional floors in future apart from existing proposed two floors.
Sources informed that technically and economically bored cast-in-situ piles are found to be most viable. Approval has been obtained for change in type of foundation from the governing body of GSUDA.
Immediate order was issued to the contractor on March 17, 2011, to execute the bored cast-in-situ pile foundation.
Regarding the Mapusa vegetable market, in January 2011, the Mapusa municipal council has forwarded the file of vegetable shed to the office of PWD chief engineer, Panaji,for issuance of technical sanction, sources said.