Daijiworld Media Network - Chinchinim

Chinchinim, May 9: Hopes of Chinchinim villagers for a road bypass seem to have hit a dead end, as the Centre has floated a tender for the expansion of the Cuncolim-Navelim stretch on NH66 with a plan to build the highway on stilts through Dandeavaddo.

Residents of Dandeavaddo have long been opposing the elevated corridor, advocating instead for a bypass road to ease traffic and minimize disruption to village life. However, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and National Highways have indicated that the central government has not favoured the bypass demand.

Just a month ago, the Chinchinim Panchayat, led by Sarpanch Frank Viegas, had formally approached the Comunidade body seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the proposed bypass route.

Viegas had expressed hope that, with the NOC in hand, the Panchayat could make a renewed appeal to the authorities to revisit their plan in favour of the villagers’ long-standing demand.

With the tender process now underway for the elevated project, villagers fear their efforts may have been in vain, raising concerns over environmental impact and disruption to local livelihoods.