Panaji: The Rs 650-crore Porvorim flyover will be inaugurated on September 10 by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Goa Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan A. Khaunte said on Saturday.
Khaunte made the announcement while addressing an Independence Day programme at the Government Complex Building in Mapusa, North Goa, where he hoisted the national flag.
He said the state-of-the-art flyover, whose work is nearing completion, will help address longstanding traffic congestion on the Mapusa-Panaji route and improve connectivity for residents, businesses, and tourists.
“The Porvorim flyover is a significant infrastructure project for Goa. Its completion will address the longstanding traffic congestion on the Mapusa-Panaji route and provide smoother connectivity,” Khaunte said.
He said its inauguration would mark an important milestone in the state’s infrastructure development efforts and improve the quality of life for people.
Highlighting Goa’s tourism sector, Khaunte said it remained the backbone of the state’s economy and had provided stability following the ban on mining.
The government has been expanding tourism beyond beaches by promoting homestays, eco-tourism, hinterland tourism, spiritual tourism, heritage tourism, adventure tourism, culinary tourism, wellness tourism, and yoga tourism, he said.
Khaunte also highlighted projects such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Digital Museum at Farmagudi and the Porvorim Town Square, saying that 75-80 per cent of the work on these projects had been completed.
These projects, supported by financial assistance from the Centre, would add new attractions to Goa’s tourism landscape and create employment opportunities for locals, he said.
On employment generation and the IT sector, Khaunte said Goa currently had 815 startups, of which 382 had been founded by women.
Since the launch of the Startup Policy in 2018, more than Rs 4.5 crore has been distributed through grants, while financial assistance has also been provided under the IT Policy launched in 2021, he said.
The Tuem Electronics Manufacturing Cluster would provide a boost to the state’s IT and electronics manufacturing sector, benefiting from highway connectivity and its proximity to Manohar International Airport at Mopa, Khaunte said.
The government was also working to attract Global Capability Centres (GCCs) of multinational companies to Goa and make the state an IT knowledge hub through the IT and Startup Policies, digital governance, e-services, and skill development initiatives, he said.
Khaunte said the government’s focus remained on inclusive development and creating new opportunities for people.
“The inclusive development of the country and Goa is the firm resolve of our double-engine government. The report of the government’s performance over the past five years is our progress report,” he said.
He also paid tribute to freedom fighters and called upon citizens to preserve Goa’s culture, language, and identity while contributing to the vision of an advanced, safe, clean, digital, and prosperous Goa.
