Slated to begin in 2025, Zuari bridge twin towers’ work stalled for want of CRZ nod

Panaji: The ambitious twin towers project atop the new Zuari bridge, work on which was supposed to begin this year, has not yet received Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, delaying its commencement.Although a site inspection was conducted by a team of experts from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) on Nov 18, the authority deliberated on the inspection report only on Dec 24. After the meeting, the authority informed the contractors, Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon and the PWD, that more clearances were required for the project from the forest department and the Goa State Pollution Control Board before the GCZMA can give its approval.The inspection report indicated that there are some mangroves in the proposed project area, which may necessitate clearance from the forest department.“It is mandatory for the project proponent to submit the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report and to give a detailed presentation, highlighting the potential environmental impacts and applicable CRZ regulations for the proposed project before the GCZMA. The project proponent has submitted the draft CRZ Delineation Study Report (via CSIR-NIO, Goa); however, the final report must be submitted to the GCZMA,” the inspection report stated.As part of the project, the contractor has proposed a children’s play area, toilets, pantry, ticket booth, security cabin, administrative building, etc, on the ground below the bridge on the Agasaim side, where Dilip Buildcon’s temporary office currently stands. A walkway will be built from here to the base of the towers, from where high-speed elevators will take visitors to the top of one of the two observatories.The proposal states that the walkway bridge will be 120m long and 12m wide.The GCZMA inspection report stated that the proposed project falls in the mangrove and mangrove buffer zone (CRZ-IA), CRZ-III (NDZ for river/creek), CRZ-IB (water body), and fishing zone. “The authority directed the project proponent to submit clarification on permission from the pollution control board and the forest department regarding the mangroves, and to also file their detailed reply on all the observations raised in the inspection report,” the GCZMA stated in its decision on Dec 24.