VALPOI BUS STAND WORK RESUMES IT SECOND PHASE

VALPOI: The GSIDC has begun the second phase work of the new bus stand at Valpoi, after it was kept pending for more than a year. The bus stand in the ward number 2, Valpoi-Velus road would cost Rs 7crore and is being set up over 2.5 acres of land.

Mr Swamy of Shilpi construction, the firm executing the project, said the work is going on at war footing and within 15 days time the columns would be erected.

“I am undertaking the second phase of this project, estimated to cost round Rs 6.24 crore and it will be completed before the deadline,” he said. Deadline for the project is February 25, 2012.

The project, which is coming up at just less than a kilometre from the market, will also have an auditorium. Besides, there a provision for Joggers Park, and parking arrangement for buses, rickshaws and two-wheelers.

Sources said that the connecting roads, which are narrow would be widened and the entire area in the vicinity done up to give it a new look. Speaking to this daily, councillor of ward number 2, Mr Ramdas Shirodker said, “The bus stand is a dream project of Health Minister, Mr Vishwajit Rane. The people from his ward are highly grateful of Mr Rane for the huge project.”

“Currently the town is lacking in proper bus stand and buses are being halted in the middle of the road creating traffic congestion regularly and on the market day the condition is still worse,” Mr Shirodker added.  With the operation of this bus stand, the traffic congestion will vanish, he said.

After reviewing the progress of the work of the new bus stand project, he said that the work is satisfactory and hoped for quality work from the contractor.  Pointing to narrow culvert along the approaching road, some people has the government to widen it or alternatively built a new bridge for the smooth flow of traffic.

Meanwhile, some people have expressed fear that the project could become another white elephant like the bus stand projects at Honda and Ponda.  Some shopkeepers in the heart of the town, around the existing bus stand, are apprehensive that with the shifting of the bus stand, their business would be adversely affected.