'Goa MLAs to sensitise people about NH realignment'

The Goa government on Saturday launched a public awareness drive led by legislators, ahead of the proposed re-alignment of National Highways 17 and 4A which have faced opposition in the recent past.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar chaired a meeting at the State Secretariat, along with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, legislators and members of the National Highways Authority of India and Public Works Department.

During the meeting, a detailed presentation about the proposed re-alignment was made, listing out possible bottlenecks vis-a-vis implementation of the project.

"I have asked MLAs to go back to the people and explain the re-alignment process and plans with them. We will go ahead with the highways re-alignment process only after their feedback," Parsekar said told reporters at the State Secretariat.

Re-alignment and widening of both highways has been pending for more than a decade in Goa due to opposition to successive plans facing opposition, especially in places along the present national highways routes which pass through populated pockets.

While NH-17 stretches from Panvel in Maharashtra to Edapally in Kerala, it passes across the length of Goa. NH 4A starts in Belgaum and culminates in the port town of Vasco, in South Goa, around 35 km south of Panaji.