Narendra Modi bringing bridge bonanza to Goa: Parrikar

Panaji, June 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to deliver a double bridge-bonanza during his one-day trip to Goa Saturday, his first official tour to a state after assuming the post.

"The prime minister will unveil the plaque of the new bridge across the river Mandovi. The 2.2 km length bridge and flyover will be built at an approximate cost of around Rs.400 crore," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters Wednesday.

"The bridge will ease traffic for those staying in Bardez (a sub-district in North Goa) and will be lit up with LED lights at night," Parrikar said at the state secretariat here.

Modi is also expected to announce during his Goa visit the sanctioning of a new bridge spanning the Zuari river, which divides the North and South Goa districts. The estimated cost of the bridge is around Rs.900 crore.

Parrikar also said that Modi would be addressing two meetings, one involving party workers and another for over 150 select invitees from the state at a city resort.

"He will address the invitees. We do not know if he will answer any questions, or whether there will be an interaction," Parrikar said.

Besides, he said it was unclear if the media would be allowed to attend both the dos. "So far, we have not been informed if the media will be allowed," Parrikar said.

The chief minister also said that it was a matter of pride for Goa that Modi chose the state for his first official visit after becoming prime minister.

Incidentally, it was at Goa that the decks were cleared within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for Modi to become prime minister.

Modi was formally appointed head of the BJP's 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign committee at the party national executive here in 2013.

IANS