Panaji: The third bridge over River Mandovi named “Atal Setu” near Panaji was inaugurated on Sunday by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari with ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar making his first public appearance for the first time since he was diagnosed with pancreatic ailment, last year.
Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the cable stay bridge at Panaji in presence of Parrikar, Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik and other ministers from the State government.
Parrikar, 63, has been recuperating at his private residence since October 14 when he was discharged from All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, and since then had not attended any of the public events, except for his few visits to the office at Secretariat.
The 5.1 kilometer-long bridge is the third link on River Mandovi connecting the capital city to North Goa.
The frail looking Parrikar with medical appendage did was greeted with enthusiasm by the public when he arrived for the function to inaugurate this project, which has been considered as one of his dream infrastructure venture.
The Chief Minister has been suffering from pancreatic ailment since February last year and has been on and off the hospitals in Mumbai, Delhi and the USA.
The bridge will decongest the Panaji to a great extend as approximately 66,000 vehicles enter the capital city every day.
Very soon the bridge will be named as mandvi bridge and not mandovi.