Daijiworld Media Network – Goa

Goa, May 22: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is set to perform the ground-breaking ceremony for the much-anticipated iconic twin Observatory Towers atop the new Zuari Bridge on May 23, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The Rs 270 cr project, however, will begin actual construction only after the monsoon, pending key clearances.

The project is being executed by Zuari Observatory Towers, a subsidiary of Dilip Buildcon, under a Concession Agreement signed in 2023 with the Public Works Department (PWD). The construction will follow the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model and is slated for completion in three years, although the company has been allotted a 60-month window.

Atul Joshi, Vice President (Constructions), Dilip Buildcon, told The Goan, “Though the ground-breaking will be held, construction will commence only post monsoon. The Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is in its final stages, and several permissions are still awaited.”

These include CRZ clearance from the Coastal Zone Management Authority, consent to establish from the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and approvals from the Indian Navy, among others.

Gadkari had earlier laid the foundation stone for the project on December 22, 2023, and had expressed concerns about the delay in starting the work.

The twin towers, each capable of accommodating over 500 visitors, will feature high-speed elevators and permanent walkways to provide access. The viewing galleries aim to offer a panoramic experience atop the iconic Zuari Bridge. Once completed, the concessionaire will operate the towers for 50 years, charging a fee from visitors to recover construction and maintenance costs.