Panaji: After running from the pillar to the post, the fate of senior citizens of the housing colony in Bambolim, was finally known by the Union minister for road transportation and highways, Nitin Gadkari.
The minister’s office has requested the State Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highway Authority (NHAI) to take the necessary steps to ensure senior citizens do not face difficulties because of highway work in Bambolim.
“Gadkari has taken a serious record of the difficulties faced by the people, especially senior citizens, and has instructed that the issues to be taken can be taken for resolution at once.
The actions taken in this problem signal to us for ministerial information, Mort,” Sanket Bhondve , IAS, the private secretary to the Union Minister said in his email to PWD and Nhai.
The petition of the population has been delayed by the State Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Minister of Chief, besides PWD.
Palmar Colony’s elderly population accused this work was a deviation from the original highway expansion plan on stretching.
The modified plan is illegal and has caused severe discomfort for the population of the colony, most of whom are parents, the elderly residents told the Union Minister in their application.
This colony is located near the Gave Medical College Complex, Bambolim.
“In building a 4-lane highway; EPC Contractors and Consultants have violated the existing MDR St Cruz-Bambolim road reducing the width of this road from 8 to 4.5m.
Therefore the traffic of the St Cruz-Bambolim Goa Medical College, in particular Cross ambulances, through our private housing colony which creates a disruption and insecure conditions to the population, “said the senior citizens, presented documents purchased by RTI to support their claims.
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Residents said that unplanned road work and changes were made with hidden motives to protect the interests of one person who had a structure on this road.
Contractors have also explored the side of the highway today to a depth of almost 12-15 m to extract the earth to be used to fill the highway project and have left the stretch of dug in dangerous conditions, the local residents said.