Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Aug 31: The six-lane elevated Porvorim corridor will be opened to traffic from 4 pm on September 11, following its inauguration by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on September 9 at 6 pm.

The 5.50-km corridor, constructed at a cost of Rs 664.6 crore by Rajasthan-based contractor RRSM Infra, will be opened to the public on foot on September 7 and 8, allowing people to walk along the elevated stretch, take selfies and participate in runs and walkathons, PWD Minister Digambar Kamat said.

Kamat clarified that the public will be allowed to experience the corridor only on foot during these two days and will not be permitted to ride or drive vehicles on it.

“We wanted the corridor to be inaugurated prior to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival as many people take Ganesh idols from North Goa to Vasco and Margao. It will help make travel easy for them. After inauguration, we need time to clear the inauguration ceremony erections on the corridor, as a result it will be made open for traffic on Sep 11 at 4pm,” Kamat said.

He said the inaugural function would be held at the starting point of the corridor near Hotel Majestic, with around 3,000 to 4,000 people expected to attend.

Public entry for the inauguration will be through Guirim, while arrangements will be made for parking vehicles on a section of the corridor, Kamat said.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Panaji-side entrance to the corridor will remain closed.

Kamat said all service roads would be repaired before the project is inaugurated. Debris and other material left behind by the construction work will also be cleared before the corridor is thrown open to the public for regular use.