----- Original Message -----
From: floriano
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: Bridging the Gap betwen Vasco and Panaji- NT 13/Sep/2008
September 13, 2008
To,
The Editor,
Navhind Times.
Sir,
Sub: Bridging the Gap between Vasco and Panaji
With reference to the above letter to the editor appearing in the 'Reader's
Angle' , much as we appreciate the futuristic vision of Mr. Ivor Jorge, the
author of the letter, I would like to excerpt an item from the Goa Su-Raj
Party's 'Road Map for Goa' Chapter III [6][e] - General Administration -PWD-
Bridges & Fly-Overs, released on August 20, 2005.
Quote
Possibly a suspension bridge to connect Dona Paula plateau to Dabolim/Vasco.
The desirability of connecting all existing ferry points by bridges shall be
examined and acted upon accordingly within a specified time frame. A bridge
to connect North Goa riverine belt to the capital city possibly connecting
Nerul/Verem to Campal/Miramar or Dona Paula plateau in Panjim shall be
considered. Existing ferry points, dual movement ferries shall be introduced
which do not necessitate reversing so that vehicles can enter and exit
without reversing. Pipe-structured bridges such as the ones on the
Guirim-Karaswado highway by-pass shall be replaced by arch bridges, as the
submerged pipes pose hindrance to the free flow of water and is the cause of
siltation of the river beds. Every major intersection of the highway shall
be provided with a fly-over or a subway for vehicular traffic. Pedestrian
crossings shall be built either underground or overhead in order to ensure
the safety of the pedestrians without hindering the free flow of traffic.
Unquote.
BTW, the first Pedestrian crossing over-head bridge to be built will be at
the cruise-boat jetty at Panjim which has been the need of the hour since
many moons ago.
Sd/-
Floriano Lobo
GS/Spokesman,
Goa Su-Raj Party
(M) 9890470896
**
The letter
A LINK between two tourist destinations, a new dawn for two important
cities, and opportunistic choice for the Goan students, commerce, industry
and tourism where the North embraces the South is a bridge from Mormugao
Harbour to Dona Paula.
The so called 'launch' or 'ferry service' that used to be a boon for the
common people to travel from Vasco da Gama to Panaji is no more in
existence. No one has ever raised this issue as much as the fuss that is
being made about the Mopa airport which - whether we like it or not - will
be functional sooner or later.
A good alternative in lieu of the ferry would be a bridge which cuts short
the long travel from Vasco to Panaji City to a mere distance that would
probably take just 20 minutes. The present route is congested and takes
almost 45 minutes. A bridge across to Dona Paula would also mean a diversion
of at least half the traffic on the road.
It would indeed be a blessing in disguise for the tourists that frequent
these tourist hubs - Mormugao Harbour and Dona Paula. It would also be
economically more viable and less time consuming to travel to and fro fro
thousands of workers that are employed across in the big corporate
companies, small commercial units, star hotels, central and state government
undertakings located in and around the port town and the capital city.
It's time now for the Goans to take up this issue and capture the vision and
make the best use of the availability of advanced technology that can build
this state of the art infrastructure.
I beseech the central and state government to envisage and consider the
building of this new bridge in the next budget.
IVOR JORGE
[The writer is an estate officer residing in Vasco]
